Betweenoctober2013andJune2016,ChinasignedmultiplecontractswithcountriesalongtheBeltandroad.Itagreedtoundertakelargetransportinfrastructureprojectsin26countries;majorenergyprojectsin19countries(includingpowerstationsaswellaselectricity,oilandgastransmissionprojects);and52economicandtradecooperationzones(eTZs)in18countries.CommoditytradevolumebetweenChinaandBelt&roadcountriesbetweenJune2013andJune2016amountedtous$3.1trillion,accountingfor26percentofChina鈥檚totalforeigntrade,andChina鈥檚cumulativeinvestmentinthesecountriesreachedus$51.1billion.Financialsupportfromtheinitiativecovers90percentofcountriesandregionsalongtheBeltandroad,andtherehavebeenpeople-to-peopleandculturalexchangesamongstallcountriesandregionsinvolved.
Despitetheprevailingclimateofanti-globalizationdominatedbyprotectionism,isolationism,andpopulism,theconceptofinclusive,fair,andrationalinternationalcooperationadvocatedbytheBeltandroadInitiativepromisesallpeoplesalongtheroutessustainabledevelopmentandhopeforthefuture.Itsspiritofunity,win-wincooperation,mutualbenefit,andcommondevelopmentisadvancingtheestablishmentofanewfairandinclusiveinternationalorder.
HappylocalworkersposeforaselfieonJanuary9torecordtheexcitingmomentwhenthefirstfreightlocomotivesrollintoMombasaontheMombasaNairobiSGRProjectinKenyacontractedbytheChinaRoadandBridgeCorporation.