Journalists throng Beijing for Belt and Road Forum

World
Europe

By CGTN's ‍Sean Callebs

The stage is set for the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. World leaders have congregated in the Chinese capital for the high-level two-day gathering which kicks off on May 14.

At the forum's media center in Beijing, journalists are being greeted with a wealth of reading materials to help them understand and digest the intricacies of Chinese President Xi Jinping's proposal.

CGTN Photo

It was in 2013 that Chinese President Xi Jinping put forth with the idea of the Belt and Road Initiative, aiming to revitalize the ancient Silk Road trade route by boosting cooperation among countries along today's Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road.

Many in major cities in China understand the Belt and Road Initiative, and its wide-ranging strategies and plans. But it might be a different story in other parts of the world. And with this in mind, journalists at the forum are eager to get the word out.

Security is high in China's vast capital city, and that is to be expected when so many high level officials from around the world are sharing the same stage.

CGTN Photo

Leaders from more than two dozen nations will be in attendance, including the prime minister of Spain.

Spain believes it can benefit from the Belt and Road Forum by finding a way to land a potentially lucrative contract to build a high-speed rail line, either in Europe or somewhere in Asia.

Journalist Antonio Broto, with Spain's EFE Network says throughout much of the world, the Belt and Road Initiative remains a mystery.

But Broto believes the two-day summit will be a coming out party for the plan.

CGTN Photo

It's an oversimplification to say the Belt and Road Initiative is designed to breathe new life into the global economy by revitalizing the ancient Silk Road.

But with trillions of dollars at stake, the Belt and Road Initiative could be one unifying economic linchpin that drives the world's economy well into this century.