Xinhua News Agency, May 14th. The cooperation Initiative on Promoting TradeConnectivity of “Belt and Road” was issued on May 14th, which is one of theimportant achievements of the Belt and Road Forum for InternationalCooperation. According to the initiative, China will begin to hold ChinaInternational Import Expo from 2018.

The journalist learned of this at the Thematic Session on Trade Connectivityheld on May 14th. The participating parties all regarded it necessary topromote “Belt and Road” trade connectivity cooperation, which is to realize amore active, more inclusive and more sustainable economic globalization. Theyalso emphasized that special attentions should be given to the least developedcountries.

In terms of promoting trade growth, the initiative pointed out that, China willbegin to hold China International Import Expo from 2018, building aninternational platform not only for foreign products to enter China, but alsofor the countries to conduct trade and for promoting global trade growth. China is willing to, together with interested countries and regions, negotiate andbuild free trade zones, and strengthen cooperation on trade facilitationinfrastructure with countries along the “Belt and Road” line, and support thecountries alongside to strengthen capability construction of economic and tradeand investment talents. It is expected that, in the future 5 years, China willimport products valued at US$ 2 trillion from countries and regions alongside.

In terms of boosting bilateral investment, the participating parties willstrengthen investment and cooperation with each other, drive trade throughinvestment and strengthen regional value chain investment. In the future 5years, China’s investment to the countries and regions alongside is expected toreach US$ 150 billion.

In terms of promoting inclusiveness and sustainable development, theparticipating parties will jointly fulfill the commitments of promoting UN 2030Agenda for Sustainable Development. China is willing to provide 10 thousandplaces to the countries and regions alongside to take part in research andstudies and trainings in China, so as to help the related countries strengthenthe cultivation of trade and investment talents. China is also willing tosupport the related UN organizations and the WTO to make special trade andinvestment cooperation plans for the countries alongside, so as to promote therealization of inclusiveness and sustainable development.

The related parties spoke highly of the initiative. The WTO Secretary-GeneralRoberto Azevedo said holding import expo is an important measure for China topromote economic globalization and support multilateral trading system, and heis willing to take part in the first China International Import Expo next year.

Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan said more and more countries are expected totake part in and support the cooperation initiative for “Belt and Road” tradeconnectivity. This will surely contribute to promoting economic globalizationand promoting global trade growth, and also contribute to China’s opening upand promoting trade coordination and sustainable development.