The second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation is to be held on April 25-27 in Beijing. Leaders including heads of state and government from 37 countries will attend the forum's roundtable summit, as well as some 5,000 participants from more than 150 countries and 90 international organizations will attend the forum.
Xi meets special envoy of Japanese prime minister
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday met with Toshihiro Nikai, Japanese prime minister's special envoy and secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party, ahead of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) in Beijing.
Noting China-Japan relations are back on normal track and gaining positive momentum, Xi said the two sides should abide by the principles affirmed in the four China-Japan political documents, adhere to the general direction of peace and friendship, continue to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral ties.
The two countries should implement their political consensus that "they never pose a threat to each other" and "they are cooperative partners supporting each other's peaceful development," and push bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields to a new level, Xi said.
The two sides should tap the potential for cooperation, Xi noted.
China welcomes Japan's continued and in-depth participation in China's reform and opening up, and hopes that Japan will play a more active role in jointly building the Belt and Road, Xi said.
The two sides should strengthen communication and coordination, jointly uphold multilateralism and free trade, and promote the building of an open world economy, Xi said, adding that China supports Japan in hosting the G20 Osaka Summit.
As this year is the China-Japan Youth Exchange Promotion Year, Xi said the two sides should sow the seeds of friendship among the people of the two countries, especially among the youth, to promote people-to-people ties.
Nikai delivered a letter signed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Xi and said it is gratifying that Japan-China relations are back on track.
Nikai said he is deeply touched by President Xi's views on bilateral relations.
The Belt and Road Initiative put forward by Xi is a grand vision with great potential, Nikai said, adding that the Japanese side appreciates China's important contributions to the world and the region through this initiative.
As the special envoy of the prime minister to attend the BRF, Nikai said Japan is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in this regard and support extensive exchanges between various sectors of the two countries, especially among the youth.
Xi accepted Abe's letter and asked Nikai to convey his regards to Abe.
Xi meets Azerbaijani president
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday ahead of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to be held from April 25 to 27 in Beijing.
Azerbaijan is an important cooperative partner of China in the Eurasian region and one of the first countries to respond to and actively participate in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Xi said.
China supports the development path chosen by the Azerbaijani people in accordance with their national conditions and the efforts of the Azerbaijani side to develop its economy and improve people's livelihood, he said.
China would like to work with Azerbaijan to take the BRI as an opportunity to align the development plans of the two sides, deepen cooperation in infrastructure construction and other areas, expand cultural, educational and local exchanges, and enhance mutual understanding and friendship, he said.
Azerbaijan regards China as a firm friend and partner and unreservedly supports China on issues concerning its core interests and major concerns, Aliyev said, adding that Azerbaijan has actively responded to and participated in the BRI since its inception.
The country is willing to build an international transport corridor across the Caspian Sea and promote regional connectivity by taking advantage of its unique geographic location, he said.
The Azerbaijani side is also willing to join hands with the Chinese side in cracking down on the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, he added.
Xi meets Myanmar's State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Myanmar's State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday ahead of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to be held from April 25 to 27 in Beijing.
Noting the profound "Paukphaw" (fraternal) friendship between China and Myanmar, Xi said China is willing to carry forward the traditional friendship of the two sides, increase mutually beneficial cooperation and push forward bilateral relations constantly.
In light of the celebrations next year that will mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Myanmar diplomatic relationship, the two sides should actively conduct interactions at all levels and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and focus their pragmatic cooperation more on areas related to people's livelihood, so as to continuously consolidate public support for bilateral friendship, Xi said.
China supports Myanmar in developing its economy and improving people's livelihood, and appreciates the efforts of the Myanmar's government to advance domestic peace and reconciliation, Xi said.
China is willing to work with Myanmar to safeguard the security and stability in China-Myanmar border areas and ensure the safety and normal order of border residents, he said.
China highly appreciates the establishment of a steering committee by the Myanmar's government for implementation of tasks related to the Belt and Road Initiative, which is chaired by Aung San Suu Kyi, Xi said.
China is willing to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation with Myanmar under the Belt and Road framework, and accelerate the development of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor, so as to bring more concrete benefits to the two peoples, he said.
Noting that China is a close and friendly neighbor of Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi expressed gratitude to China's efforts to support the peace, stability and development of Myanmar.
Myanmar has supported the Belt and Road Initiative since the very beginning and has been active in expanding cooperation with China, and it believes joint construction of the initiative will lead to greater well-being in the world and the region, enhance Myanmar-China friendship and cooperation, and bring concrete benefits to the two peoples, she said.
Myanmar is willing to work with China to safeguard the security and stability in border areas, she said.
Myanmar appreciates China's position in upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China on multilateral affairs, she added.
Chinese, Chilean presidents hold talks
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Chilean counterpart Sebastian Pinera held talks in Beijing on Wednesday ahead of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.
China and Chile should take joint pursuit of the Belt and Road Initiative as a new opportunity to deepen political mutual trust and pragmatic cooperation, and push the China-Chile comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level, Xi said.
Xi said the two countries should promote the upgrading of bilateral trade and investment, and strengthen cooperation in areas such as mining, clean energy, telecommunication, e-commerce, technological innovation and Antarctic science.
Efforts should be made to better hold a series of celebrations next year that will mark the 50th anniversary of China-Chile diplomatic relations, and boost people-to-people ties, he said.
China supports Chile in hosting the UN climate change summit and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting this year, and will work with Chile to push forward the construction of the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific and uphold multilateralism as well as the multilateral trading system, said Xi.
The nature of cooperation between China and Latin American and Caribbean countries is South-South cooperation, and the two sides should continue to support and help each other, complement each other with respective strengths, pursue win-win cooperation, so as to achieve common development and rejuvenation, and jointly forge a community with a shared future between China and Latin America, he said.
Pinera said Chile and China had achieved marked progress in bilateral relationship since the two countries established diplomatic ties.
Chile supports joint pursuit of the Belt and Road Initiative to enhance connectivity among regions, Pinera said.
Chile hopes to learn from China's achievements in innovation-driven development and green development, and expand bilateral cooperation in such areas, he said.
Pinera also noted that Chile would enhance coordination and cooperation with China on regional and multilateral affairs, and continue to play an exemplary role in promoting relations between Latin America and China.
After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents.
Chinese president meets IMF chief
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday met with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde ahead of the opening of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.
Xi said that China appreciates Lagarde's active efforts to promote cooperation between the IMF and China, and her support for international cooperation in jointly building the Belt and Road.
"China values its sound relations with the IMF and hopes to continue to deepen cooperation between our two sides," Xi said.
Now, more and more countries are participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, fully proving that the initiative meets the development needs of different countries and has won extensive support, he added.
"We welcome more active participation in the initiative by international institutions including the IMF, and are willing to provide better public goods to countries along the Belt and Road through the cooperation," Xi said.
Xi stressed that China consistently supports a strong and well-resourced IMF.
The country hopes the related quota and governance reforms will keep pace with the times, and reflect the representation and voice of emerging market countries in line with their status in world economy, Xi said.
Lagarde said the Belt and Road Initiative is an important manifestation of China's leadership in international affairs, and she spoke highly of China's leading role in supporting multilateralism.
The world needs China, and global economic growth cannot be achieved without China's sustained development, she said, adding that China's economic policies are prudent and effective.
The IMF attaches great importance to its cooperative partnership with China, appreciates China's long-term support, and is willing to provide help in the joint construction of the Belt and Road, Lagarde said.
Xi meets Ethiopian prime minister
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali on Wednesday ahead of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to be held from April 25 to 27 in Beijing.
While stressing that Ethiopia is an important partner of China in Africa, Xi said both China and Ethiopia are developing countries that have relied on their own efforts to pioneer development paths that suited their own specific national conditions.
Xi said China supports Ethiopia's efforts in maintaining stability, developing economy and improving livelihood, and is willing to maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges with Ethiopia, understand and support each other on issues involving respective core interests and major concerns.
He said China will advance bilateral cooperation of mutual benefits, help Ethiopia improve its abilities in industrialization and in earning foreign exchange through exports, and keep close communication and coordination with Ethiopia in international and regional affairs concerning climate change and the situation in the Horn of Africa.
Xi said China is willing to deepen the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries by jointly building the Belt and Road and by implementing the results achieved at the Beijing summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, so as to better benefit the people of the two countries.
While hailing China is the most reliable friend and the most cherished partner of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed Ali said Ethiopia will actively take part in the building of the Belt and Road.
He said China has always respected African countries and never imposed its own will on them, adding that African countries think highly of China's cooperation principles Xi put forward at the Beijing summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and that they fully agree on advancing Belt and Road international cooperation under the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits.
Xi meets Mozambican president
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi on Wednesday ahead of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to be held from April 25 to 27 in Beijing.
Xi said leaders of different countries will discuss issues of common concern including synergy of development policies, connectivity of infrastructure and sustainable development under the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits at the forum, so as to make greater contributions to promoting world economic growth and international economic cooperation.
Noting that China and Mozambique have agreed to jointly promote the Belt and Road (B&R) cooperation plan, Xi said the two sides should commit themselves to improving quality and efficiency of cooperation while enhancing people-to-people and cultural exchanges and cooperation, so that the traditional friendship between the two countries can be inherited and carried forward.
Nyusi said the joint building of the B&R is conducive to world economic growth and balanced development, adding that it is also of great importance for Mozambique and Africa.
Mozambique congratulates the People's Republic of China on its 70th anniversary and is ready to deepen its strategic partnership with China, Nyusi said.
Mozambique is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in a wide range of fields and exchange experience in state governance, Nyusi noted.
The Mozambican side is also willing to play an active role in jointly building the B&R in the African subregion, he said.
After the meeting, the two leaders witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents.