Xi says China will host Belt and Road forum in May

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China plans to host a Belt and Road forum for international cooperation in Beijing this May to brainstorm on interconnected development, President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday.

The upcoming forum will explore ways to address regional and global economic problems, generate fresh energy for interconnected development, and ensure that the Belt and Road Initiative delivers greater benefits to the people of the countries involved, Xi said in a keynote speech at the opening session of the World Economic Forum (WEF)'s annual meeting at the Swiss ski resort of Davos.

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech at the opening plenary of the 2017 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 17, 2017. /Xinhua Photo

The Chinese president put forward the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, with the aim of building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road trade routes.

Since then, more than 100 countries and international organizations have given their warm responses to the initiative, and over 40 countries and organizations have signed cooperation agreements with China.

Chinese President Xi Jinping with Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum, in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 17, 2017. /Xinhua Photo‍

Xi arrived in Switzerland on Sunday for a four-day state visit and the WEF annual meeting.

It is the first state visit to the Alpine country by a Chinese president in the 21st century, and also the first time that a Chinese president has attended the WEF meeting, a gathering that this year has seen 3,000 government, business and civil society leaders gather to shape global, regional and industry agendas together.

(Source: Xinhua)

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