Honorable Lord Lieutenant and Vice Lord Lieutenant,

Honorable Lord Mayor of Manchester and Mayors,

Dear friends, ladies and gentlemen,

A warm welcome to our ‘Belt and Road’ Open Day Event!

Since its launch 5 years ago, the Belt and Road Initiative has involved more than 140 countries and regions and achieved great results. Communication and collaboration between China and countries along Belt and Road have been carried out in full swing with trading and investment being continually expanded and important projects advancing in solid steps.

Over the past 5 years, Sino-UK cooperation has also witnessed a continuous upgrading. In 2015, UK became the founding member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. In 2016, China grew to be UK’s fastest growing export market. In 2017, the flagship project Hinkley Point C began construction and the first China-Europe freight train reached London. Last year, China and UK agreed to set up a bilateral investment fund with an initial round of $1 billion to support projects under the Belt and Road Initiative. In January this year, DIT announced 25 billion pound support to UK companies involved in Belt and Road Initiative.

Ladies and gentlemen, peace, development and win-win cooperation have become the rising trend of our times. One belt and one road span across 4 civilizations eastern and western, along which there are spectacular scenery, brilliant culture, vibrant economy and infinite opportunities. When looking back at the juncture of the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and open-up, we registered earthshaking changes that took place in a country who had blazed its own trail of socialism with Chinese characteristics and made great contribution to the world. Peace and development are the common aspirations of the world, Chinese President Xi Jinping, in his recent address to Bao’ao Forum for Asia, said that various parties of the international community should do as China does to promote the reform of global governance and building new international relations as well as a community with a shared future for mankind. When China opens its door wider and wider to the outside world, we would like to see the North of England seize on the opportunities presented by China’s reform and open-up as well as the Belt and Road Initiative. Let’s build and intensify mutual understanding through collaboration and jointly create a beautiful new era for China-UK relations.

I wish you an enjoyable experience today. Thank you!