Even as the Belt and Road Initiative forum is taking place thousands of miles away in Beijing, the impact is felt globally. In South Africa, the Chinese Embassy, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and the Human Science Research Council held a seminar on the initiative's impact. The seminar provided an opportunity for South African government, researchers, media and the public to better understand the Belt and Road Initiative and the progress being made in connecting BRI with the development agenda of South Africa and Africa as a whole. CGTN's Yolisa Njamela has more.

South Africa's Standard Chartered Bank says the Belt and Road Initiative is presently the most ambitious and far-reaching project of its kind in the world. It's a message that has been echoed in this seminar. The seminar provided an opportunity to understand how the initiative will benefit all countries along the routes, contributing to global economic and social development.

LIN SONGTIAN CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO SOUTH AFRICA "The golden rules for the belt and road initiative is 'three together' - planning together, build together and share together. The fundamental goal is to achieve win-win cooperation for common development through connectivity in trade, finance and people to people exchanges."

The Belt and Road Initiative is a China-led strategy to strengthen global trade links across the world, in particular between Asia, Africa and Europe, with investment in an array of large-scale infrastructure projects along these two land and sea corridors.

AMBASSADOR ANIL SOOKLAL DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS DEPARTMENT "The belt and road initiative reminds me very much of what started as a slow goods train, heavily laden, but today it is one of China's speeding trains, that's moving at a remarkable pace. Either you get onto this train and become part of the ride and become part of the benefits or you'll be left behind."

China's general emphasis on infrastructure development has received positive endorsement of African leaders.

YOLISA NJAMELA PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA "Many economists say the Belt and Road Initiative will not only boost trade and investment opportunities between China and South Africa but will also provide economic development opportunities between China and various African countries."

The Chinese government calls the Belt and Road initiative a bid to enhance regional connectivity and embrace a brighter future.

DR PHILANI MTHEMBU EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, INSTITUTE FOR GLOBAL DIALOGUE "Judging from the benefits in other regions of the world, South Africa stands to benefit immensely if it were to join and serve as the BRI pilot nation on the African continent. At a national level, it will help create a new developmental paradigm that in turn will help growth in the region and the entire continent."

The Belt and Road Initiative has made significant headway in the past few years and has gained support from many countries and international organisations. Yolisa Njamela, CGTN, Pretoria, South Africa.