国内英语资讯:China Focus: Riding on fruitful forum, confident Xi takes Belt & Road to next level_时事

国内英语资讯:China Focus: Riding on fruitful forum, confident Xi takes Belt & Road to next level

Visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin said the initiative helped boost economic cooperation and exchanges among countries.

The 130 plus countries represented, including the host China, have more than two thirds of the global population. Their combined gross domestic product accounts for 90 percent of the world's total.

Jose Vinals, chairman of Standard Chartered PLC, said the forum marked the start of the Belt and Road 2.0.

"We reached the consensus, set the way forward, and outlined an action plan," Xi told reporters.

According to Xi, 68 countries and international organizations signed cooperation deals with China to carry forward the Belt and Road. Many were inked during the forum.

But the progress did not just end there. Xi said an outcome list of more than 270 items was formulated at the Leaders Roundtable of the forum, setting the way forward.

The roundtable also produced a communique. Among others, it strongly denounces protectionism.

"We reaffirm our shared commitment to build open economy, ensure free and inclusive trade, oppose all forms of protectionism," it says. "We endeavor to promote a universal, rules-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system with WTO at its core."

For the future, connectivity remains the centerpiece, Xi said. More land ports and sea ports will be linked into a vast trans-continental transport network.