Remarks at the Paasikivi Society by Chinese Ambassador H.E.Mr. Chen Li

女士们，先生们，

　　大家好！

　　很高兴受邀参加今天的活动！

　　一些朋友可能知道，就在上个月底，第二届“一带一路”国际合作高峰论坛在中国北京举行，包括中国在内，38个国家的元首和政府首脑等领导人参加了论坛，论坛本身也受到了国际社会的密切关注。

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good evening! It's an honor to be here, and share with you some of my knowledge about the Belt and Road Initiative.

You may know that, at the end of last month the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) was held in Beijing. With 38 countries' heads of state and government attended, the Forum has attracted close attention from the international community.

　　近年来，“一带一路”已然成为一个高频词汇和热门话题，我发现，在欧盟，当人们谈到中国，或是谈到经贸投资、互联互通，经常都会提到“一带一路”。但是，我也发现，并不是所有人都能充分理解这个概念。今天，我就想借此机会和大家谈谈“一带一路”倡议历史经纬和发展现状。

In recent years, Belt and Road has become a frequently used word and a hot topic. I noticed, in EU when people talk about China, about economy, investment or connectivity, they often talk about Belt and Road. But I also noticed that, not everyone fully understand the concept. Therefore, I'd like to take today's opportunity to answer some of the common questions.

　　首先，究竟什么是“一带一路”？“一带一路”又是怎么来的？让我们回到2013年9月，中国国家主席习近平出访哈萨克斯坦期间，在纳扎尔巴耶夫大学发表演讲，首次提出“丝绸之路经济带”倡议。一个月后，习近平主席在印度尼西亚国会演讲中提出共同建设21世纪“海上丝绸之路”。“丝绸之路经济带”加上21世纪“海上丝绸之路”，这就是“一带一路”倡议的由来。

The very first question would be "what on earth is Belt and Road?", or "how does Belt and Road come into being?" Let's go back to September 2013. When visiting Kazakhstan, Chinese President Xi Jinping made a speech in local University, where he raised the "Silk Road Economic Belt initiative". And one month later, during a speech in the parliament of Indonesia, President Xi put forward the idea of jointly building "the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road". With these two initiatives combined, the Belt and Road Initiative came alive.

　　“一带一路”是古丝绸之路的传承。2100多年前，中国最早的“外交官”之一、汉代的张骞两次出使中亚。此后中国的丝绸、茶叶、瓷器等商品传到古罗马等地，也带回了西方器物和文化。有人说这是人类历史上第一次全球化。古丝绸之路积淀了以和平合作、开放包容、互学互鉴、互利共赢为核心的丝路精神，这是人类文明的宝贵遗产。

As the name revealed, Belt and Road is inherited from the Ancient Silk Road. In Han Dynasty, 2100 years ago, a man named Zhang Qian, a pioneer diplomat, visited Central Asia twice, paving for the Ancient Silk Road. Later on through the silk road, China's tea, silk, chinaware and other products with culture went all the way west to Rome, and products and culture from the west vice versa. People say it's the very beginning of globalization. Through thousands of years, the Ancient Silk Road evolved its own spirit, featuring peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit.

　　中国提出共建“一带一路”倡议，就是想从古丝路精神中寻找解决当今世界发展问题的答案，通过促进亚欧大陆的互联互通，让更多的国家从全球价值链、产业链中获益，让更多的陆锁国变成陆联国。

　　“一带一路”始终坚持共商共建共享的法则，我们常说“一带一路”包括“五通”，即政策沟通、设施联通、贸易畅通、资金融通和民心相通：

The reason why China raised Belt and Road Initiative, is to seek solutions to development issues of today's world from the Ancient Silk Road spirit. And by boosting connectivity between Asia and Europe, more countries will benefit from globalization. More land-locked countries will become land-linked. The BRI is guided by the principle of extensive consultation, joint construction and shared benefits.

We often say there are five priorities, or five pillars in the Belt and Road Initiative, namely policy coordination, facilities connectivity, free trade, financial integration and people-to-people bonds.