PRESIDENT Xi Jinping hosted a welcome banquet in Beijing yesterday evening for guests attending the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF), and gave a toast.

Over the past 10 years since the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was launched, China and BRI partners have worked together to uphold the Silk Road spirit, contribute to global connectivity, build platforms for international economic cooperation, and add momentum to world economic growth, Xi said.

The BRI has delivered thousands of practical cooperation projects, and achieved solid and substantial results.

The achievements of Belt and Road cooperation are neither a windfall nor made with others’ alms-giving and charity, but are earned by governments, enterprises and the people of participating countries with their diligence, wisdom and courage, he said.

Belt and Road cooperation pursues development, aims at mutual benefits, and conveys a message of hope.

Belt and Road cooperation is in its prime after a vigorous decade and is heading toward the next golden decade, Xi said, stressing the need to keep an enterprising spirit.

The historical trend of peace, development and win-win cooperation is unstoppable, and people’s longing for a better life as well as the aspiration of all countries for common development and prosperity is irresistible, Xi said.

The high-quality Belt and Road cooperation will create a brighter future for humanity with the concerted efforts of all participating countries, he said.                             (Xinhua)