Second forum to further boost Belt & Road development: Think tank

A Chinese government think tank expects the upcoming Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to further boost development of the Belt and Road Initiative.

The press conference of the Belt & Road Forum for International Cooperation is held in Beijing on May 15, 2017. [File photo: Xinhua]

Wang Xiaoquan, secretary of the Belt and Road research center with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), said the forum is expected to produce a wider consensus in the international community to jointly advance the Belt and Road Initiative.

The forum is scheduled to open in Beijing in late April. Representatives from over 100 countries, including about 40 government leaders, have confirmed their attendance.

A wide range of policies and documents may be released at this year's forum, providing support for future development of the Belt and Road, Wang said.

Wang also expects the forum to provide a boon in boosting the people-to-people connectivity among countries participating in the development of the Belt and Road.

The CASS released a report on the Belt and Road development, claiming that the initiative, after five years of joint development, has become an important platform for promoting globalization.

To date, 124 countries and 29 international organizations have signed cooperation agreements with China on the Belt and Road Initiative.