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by Xinhua writer Shi Hao
BEIJING, June 25 (Xinhua) -- The early results of practical cooperation between China and countries along the Belt and Road serve as inspiration for further collaborative projects under the initiative.
The Belt and Road -- the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road -- will run through Asia, Europe and Africa, connecting the vibrant Asian economic circle at one end with developed Europe at the other.
Since the Belt and Road initiative was first introduced in 2013, more than 70 countries and international organizations have participated in the initiative and more than 30 countries have signed cooperation deals with China.
Chinese enterprises have invested huge sums of money in countries along the two routes and created a great number of jobs.
China, itself, also offers a big market, receiving more than 8.2 billion U.S. dollars in investment from Belt and Road countries in 2015, up 25 percent year on year.
China's trade with countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative exceeded one trillion U.S. dollars in 2015, accounting for a quarter of its total foreign trade.
These primary achievements in the past three years show that the initiative is effective, inclusive and mutually beneficial.
The trade and investment boons will likely make participants and onlookers more determined, politically and financially, to seek successful cooperation opportunities.
Sticking to the principles of voluntarism, equality and mutual benefit, China is very much ready to work toward achieving regional prosperity.
In the spirit of wide consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, China will try to integrate the Belt and Road initiative with the various development plans of related countries.
Cooperation areas could cover trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, infrastructure connectivity, industrial capacity export, finance and people-to-people exchanges.
In addition, partner countries should cooperate on environmental protection and ecological preservation to build a "green" Silk Road.
Further developments on Belt and Road cooperation, which will require consorted efforts and concrete actions, will definitely create opportunities for all countries involved.
