Introduction

Abstract

In September and October 2013, during a visit to Central and Southeast Asia, President Xi Jinping proposed an important initiative to jointly construct the “Silk Road Economic Belt” and the “Twenty-First Century Maritime Silk Road” (hereinafter referred to as the “Belt and Road Initiative”) [1]. His proposal aroused the immediate attention of the international community. Availing itself of the historic symbolism of the ancient “Silk Road” and under the banner of peaceful development, the “Belt and Road Initiative” aims to actively develop economic cooperation partnerships with countries neighboring the project’s routes while building a community of shared interests, futures, and responsibilities based on mutual political trust, economic integration, and cultural inclusiveness [2]. On March 28, 2015, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China issued “Vision and Actions of Jointly Building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the Twenty-First Century Maritime Silk Road.” In an effort to clarify the “Belt and Road Initiative,” this document elaborates on the project’s historical context, principle of joint construction, logical framework, cooperative focus and cooperation mechanism, among other aspects. Based on a fundamental position of “policy coordination, connectivity of infrastructure and facilities, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people bonds,” the document highlights the goals of promoting economic prosperity and regional economic cooperation among countries along the “Belt and Road,” strengthening exchange and mutual learning among different civilizations, promoting world peace and development, and benefiting the people of all countries [2].