Xi’s new Silk Road ‘has no political agenda’
President says “Belt and Road Initiative” is not dictated by ideology as summit comes to a close
President Xi Jinping said Beijing would hold its second Belt and Road summit in 2019, as he spoke briefly at his press conference to close China’s biggest diplomatic event of the year on Monday evening.
“So far, China has signed agreements related to the ‘Belt and Road’ with 68 countries and international organisations ... We have reached consensus and passed the communique,” Xi told his audience of state leaders almost 30 countries and delegates from more than 100 nations.
“The ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ is not set by ideology. We won’t set a political agenda. It’s not exclusive,” he said, adding that the forum had passed a list of 270 achievements.
China would hold the next Belt and Road summit in 2019, the president said.
“Under concerted efforts, we believe the belt and road can be built to be peaceful, thriving, pioneering, innovative, and civilised.”