Since President Xi Jinping proposed Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, it has won support from over 100 countries and international organizations, with nearly 50 cooperation agreements signed. Here is a selection of how foreign state leaders, officials and experts think it will benefit the world.
Belt and Road receives global backing
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks to Chinese media during an interview at UN headquarters in New York, May 8, 2017. [Photo by Wang Linyan/chinadaily.com.cn]
Antonio Guterres
United Nations Secretary-General
China-led Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) can be a very important instrument to meet the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Multilateralism is the solution to global problems. And China has been a strong pillar of multilateralism.
When we look at BRI, we see a very important contribution to this solidarity in addressing global problems with international cooperation, where China plays a very central role. So I'm very happy to have the chance to participate in this Belt and Road summit.
ladimir Putin
Russian President
Belt and Road was an interesting initiative that had come at a good time, and all five EEU members had agreed to cooperate under the framework of the Silk Road Economic Belt.
Alexander Lukashenko
Belarusian President
The Republic of Belarus will continue to strengthen its ties with China, as the country's Belt and Road Initiative is providing a new economic growth point for the world.
Prokopis Pavlopoulos
Greek President
This idea is based on the ancient Chinese philosophy, but also on the ancient Silk Road which is characterized by the spirit of peace and of mutual beneficial cooperation.
It substantially contributes to the development of infrastructure works, the promotion of trade, economic integration and the rapprochement between peoples and societies who are linked by land or sea, through the realization of this idea.
Doris Leuthard
Swiss President
The Belt and Road Initiative will strengthen well-being and contribute to poverty reduction in concerned regions. It will improve 'connectivity' between Europe and Asia, and help develop trade and the exchange of people.
Milos Zeman
Czech President
I will attend the forum, and the topic I am most concerned with is the Belt and Road, the world's largest initiative for infrastructure construction.
I am glad to see that the Belt and Road Initiative, which connects China and Europe, also includes the Czech Republic.
Tomislav Nikolic
Serbian President
Regarding the concept, China has moved all countries in the world and mankind to think about how to survive, to live on.
Viktor Orban
Hungarian Prime Minister
Hungary will remain open and actively participate in the Belt and Road Initiative and the 16+1 framework, constantly enriching the content of Sino-Hungarian ties.
Sergio Mattarella
Italian President
Italy will actively respond to China's initiative and be part of this plan. The two countries can join hands to write a new chapter in history.
Rodrigo Duterte
Philippine President
The Philippines is expecting to deepen its knowledge of China's Belt and Road Initiative to further identify possible areas of cooperation between the two countries.
Hery Rajaonarimampianina
Madagascar President
Madagascar supports the Belt and Road Initiative and is willing to beef up cooperation with China in energy, aviation, transportation, ports and airport construction.
Kris Peeters
Belgian deputy prime minister
The success of China's Belt and Road Initiative hinges on the involvement of all stakeholders and Belgium is willing to team up with Beijing and other international partners to contribute to the initiative.
Rajat M. Nag
Former Managing Director General of Asian Development Bank
I see the Belt and Road Initiative as part of a connectivity project for Asia, which is good and very much useful and needed. If we can improve physical connectivity within Asia and among the countries, it will enhance regional cooperation, improve greater trade, and make it easier for people move from one country to another.
Jasna Plevnik
Vice president of the Geoeconomic Forum, a renowned think tank of Croatia
To shape their (the southeast European countries) relation with China, not only serving as national but also regional, would help to access to new technologies, build new infrastructure and attract Chinese capital to the region which was featured as small markets and weak level of transport connections.
Marc Grossman
Vice chairman of The Cohen Group and former US diplomat
The Belt and Road Initiative is a very positive project that helps boost sustainable economic development in the world, especially in ill-connected Asia.
This is a big vision on the part of the government of China.
