Belt and Road Initiative Turns 5: Five years of stronger business ties, closer exchanges

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The Belt and Road Initiative has brought no shortage of success to businesspeople involved in global trade. Stronger cross-border commercial ties have ushered in a new era of greater social responsibility and closer people-to-people exchanges. CGTN's Wu Lei spoke with one Malaysian businessman in the East China city of Yiwu to find out how he too became a Belt and Road success story.

Kok Chit Hock is from Malaysia. An expert in the gem business, he has spent the last 15 years in Yiwu. As one of the city's largest gem suppliers, he says most foreign businessmen like him have paid close attention to China's Belt and Road Initiative.

KOK CHIT HOCK MALAYSIAN BUSINESSMAN "There is an old saying in China, building the road is the first step to becoming rich. When we talk about the Belt and Road, it reminds me of better infrastructure links and business exchanges. But it is not just China that benefits, any other participating country will get great benefits too."

Nowadays Kok has expanded his business, selling imported Malaysian coffee and birds nests to Chinese customers. Yiwu alone has 15 to 20 thousand international traders, most of whom are from countries along the belt and road routes. They are now importing and exporting more, thanks to closer ties between China and other countries.

WU LEI YIWU, ZHEJIANG PROVINCE "The belt and road initiative has created many business opportunities, and also fostered higher social responsibilities. Over the past 3 years, Mr. Kok and other global businessmen have devoted much of their time and money to doing charity work, to actively integrate into local communities and fully return to society."

These businessmen are from 100 different countries and regions. Kok in fact has become CEO of this international charity club, aiming to help local people.

KOK CHIT HOCK MALAYSIAN BUSINESSMAN "Our Sunrise Charity Club has garnered 110 charity partners since its establishment in 2015. We have organized over 150 charity activities, raising over 900 thousand yuan to donate to about 3000 people in need."

So each time, these pioneers actively take part in different forms of charities. They say they have gained something much more valuable than money.

OZCAN SEZER TURKISH BUSINESSMAN "It is very important because when you do business, it is not only for yourself, you should show the people when you do business, you should share your success, your money and happiness with the other people."

Many say these global traders in Yiwu set a good example for others to take part in more global projects and businesses under the Belt and Road Initiative. And sharing business and happiness will always be key for sustainable relations. WL, CGTN, Yiwu, Zhejiang province.