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Belt and Road Initiative moves forward despite pandemic — China’s foreign minister

Despite the challenging epidemiological situation, in 2020, trade turnover between China and the countries of the Belt and Road Initiative hit a new high of $1.35 trn

BEIJING, June 24. / TASS /. Cooperation between the countries of the Belt and Road Initiative did not stop despite the COVID-19 pandemic, but, on the contrary, demonstrated strength and resilience, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday at a video conference on cooperation as part of the initiative in the Asia-Pacific region.

"Last year, amid the sudden outbreak of COVID-19, cooperation within the Belt and Road Initiative not only did not come to a halt but braved the headwinds, showing remarkable resilience and vitality," the Chinese Foreign Ministry quoted him as saying.

According to China’s top diplomat, the initiative’s member-states have facilitated cooperation in combating COVID-19. Furthermore, dozens of international conferences were held in order to exchange experience in terms of promoting sustainable development.

Wang Yi also noted that despite the challenging epidemiological situation, in 2020, trade turnover between China and the countries of the Belt and Road Initiative hit a new high of $1.35 trn, which had a positive impact on countering the pandemic’s aftermath, stabilizing the economy and protecting the population’s welfare.

The Belt and Road Initiative was put forward in 2013 by Chinese President Xi Jinping in order to boost international multilateral trade and investment projects with the participation of as many countries as possible and using Chinese and foreign funds. Over 150 countries and international organizations have already joined it.

China's total trade volume with the Belt and Road Initiative countries has exceeded $ 9.2 trn over the past eight years.

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