(April 27, 2019)

Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China

Dear Colleagues,

We have just had an extensive and in-depth exchange of views and reached consensus on many important issues concerning the theme of “Boosting Connectivity to Explore New Sources of Growth”.

- We all attach great importance to the pull effect of infrastructure connectivity on economic growth. It is generally believed that strengthening infrastructure connectivity is conducive to creating new demand, promoting the flow of production factors, optimizing the industrial and supply chains, and facilitating regional economic integration. This is of great significance to breaking through development logjams in the countries concerned, promoting trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and accelerating the industrialization of developing countries. In this regard, we all emphasized the importance of building a major channel for international goods and trade, which is believed to be helpful for the further utilization of comparative advantages, and for transforming former land-locked countries into land-linked countries.

- We all want to build high-quality infrastructure. Our general aspiration is to build the Belt and Road infras-tructure projects that are high-standard, people-centered, and sustainable, and that can stand the test of the people and time. To this end, we need to ensure that infrastructure is affordable, inclusive, accessible and widely beneficial, while guaranteeing the sustainability of the projects in economic, financial, social, and environmental terms, and keeping them free of corruption. It is necessary to abide by generally accepted international rules and standards in addition to adhering to the laws, regulations and actual conditions of various countries. In other words, the projects should be high-quality, profitable for investors, affordable for developing countries, and beneficial to the local populace. In this regard, we shared from different perspectives experiences in infrastructure construction of various countries, and put forward many good ideas. The funding gap for infrastructure construction was also discussed, and it was suggested that innovative financing models and diversified financing systems should be established, and public-private partnerships should be expanded.

- We all support the building of an all-round, multi-level and multi-modal connectivity network. This includes not only railways, roads, shipping, aviation, oil and gas pipelines, power grid and other hardware connectivity, but also policies, markets, regulations and standards as well as digital infrastructure. For this purpose, we need to strengthen policy synergy and practical cooperation in various fields, including expediting customs clearance, improving transport facilitation, opposing trade and investment protectionism, improving the business environment, and supporting fair competition among all kinds of enterprises in various countries. During the working luncheon, we will also discuss the coordination of development policies and rules, which also falls within the scope of software connectivity. Some colleagues also talked about building economic corridors and cooperating in economic and trade industrial parks. These are important measures to revitalize the real economy relying on connectivity. They require continued efforts of all parties to produce multiplying effects in trade creation, investment promotion and industrial clustering. Relevant cooperation should follow a model in which the government provides guidance, enterprises act as the main players, and market principles apply. We should mobilize and give full play to the enthusiasm and strengths of all parties, and fully stimulate economic vitality.

We firmly believe that as long as we continue to jointly implement the Belt and Road Initiative to the highest standards, and promote connectivity and cooperation in a down-to-earth manner, we will certainly be able to bring about interconnected growth and open development among all countries, and create a better future.

This concludes the first session of the meeting.