SANYA /China/, December 10. /TASS/. The 5th Belt and Road Women's Forum was held in the city of Sanya in the southern Chinese province of Hainan, China News Service reported.

The opening ceremony of the forum was held on December 7. It was attended by more than 400 people, including the leadership of Sanya city, as well as diplomats, business representatives and so on.

Li Sikui, vice chairman of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said at the opening ceremony that "women are becoming increasingly active in economic development." Under the One Belt, One Road cooperation, he said, the role of women in entrepreneurship, innovation, science and technology is constantly growing. "The creativity shown by women in economic construction has given a new impetus to global prosperity," Li Sikui pointed out. He also noted that the forum organized in Hainan highlights the unique role of women in promoting the One Belt, One Road initiative, and helps strengthen interpersonal exchanges.

Speaking at the ceremony, Sanya Mayor Chen Xi said that the city is taking an active part in promoting the One Belt, One Road initiative and seizing new opportunities to build a free trade port in Hainan. He said Sanya has been promoting a favorable, comfortable and international business climate, and has made every effort to become a model for promoting the construction of a free trade port on the island. Chen Xi also hoped that the forum participants would promote exchanges and cooperation in all directions between Sanya and the rest of the world.

The forum program included thematic conferences on women's cooperation, scientific and technological innovation and development, gender equality, and cultural exchanges among countries participating in the One Belt, One Road initiative, among others.

The One Belt, One Road Initiative is a concept proposed in 2013 by Chinese President Xi Jinping to boost international multilateral trade and investment projects involving as many countries as possible and using Chinese as well as foreign capital. More than 150 countries and international organizations have already joined it.