The Belt and Road Initiative stands for the initiative of jointly building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st century Maritime Silk Road, which was proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in the fall of 2013. The background of the initiative is that world economic growth is sluggish, globalization is facing new difficulties, the reform of the global economic governance system makes slow progress, improvements are needed in the global trade and investment system, some developing countries encounter increasing difficulties in national development. Confronted with such difficulties and challenges, we recognize that stronger cooperation is the fundamental solution. It is for this reason that China has proposed the Belt and Road Initiative. The Belt and Road Initiative calls for policy coordination, connectivity of infrastructure and facilities, unimpeded trade, financial integration and closer people-to-people ties. In addition to cooperation in such key areas as connectivity, production capacity and trade and investment, cultural and people-to-people exchanges among the B&R countries are also highlighted for the contribution they can make to the prosperity of both economy and culture. The guiding principles of cooperation include consultation on an equal footing, mutual benefit, harmony and inclusiveness, market-based operation, balance and sustainability, in short, achieving shared growth through discussion and collaboration. The priorities of the initiative are boosting infrastructure construction in rail, highway, ports, electricity, information and telecommunication, enhancing trans-national and cross-regional connectivity, docking development strategies, aligning rules and regulations and strengthening personnel exchanges. Over the past four years, more than 100 countries have expressed their support and willingness to participate in the initiative. China has signed cooperation agreements with over 60 countries and international organizations. International organizations, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the World Health Organization and the United Nations, give positive responses to the initiative through issuing resolutions or signing agreements of cooperation to support and participate in it.

“一带一路”倡议是共建“丝绸之路经济带”和“21世纪海上丝绸之路”的简称，由中国国家主席习近平在2013年秋提出。背景是世界经济增长乏力、全球化面临新的艰难险阻、全球经济治理体系改革缓慢、全球贸易投资体系有待完善、部分发展中国家困难增多。面对困难挑战，唯有加强合作才是根本出路。正基于此，中国提出“一带一路”合作倡议。共建“一带一路”以政策沟通、设施联通、贸易畅通、资金融通、民心相通为主要内容，既开展互联互通、产能合作、贸易投资等重点领域的务实合作，也重视推动沿线国家之间多种形式的人文交流，实现经济和文化的共同繁荣发展。合作原则是平等协商、互利共赢、和谐包容、市场运作、平衡和可持续，简言之就是共商、共建、共享。优先方向主要有加强铁路、公路、港口、电力、信息通信等基础设施建设，推动各国、各地区基础设施联通、发展战略对接、规制衔接和人员往来。四年来，全球100多个国家表达了对共建“一带一路”倡议的支持和参与意愿，中国与60多个国家和国际组织签署了共建“一带一路”合作协议，上海合作组织、亚太经社会、世界卫生组织、联合国等国际组织积极响应，通过发表欢迎决议或签署合作文件等支持和参与“一带一路”建设。