China to host Third Belt and Road forum in Beijing on October 17-18

The third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation will be held in Beijing from October 17 to 18, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying announced on Wednesday.

The conference in Beijing on October 17-18 also marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) championed by President Xi, with representatives from many developing countries, notably from Latin America and Africa, expected to attend.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony of the forum and deliver a keynote speech, and hold a welcome banquet for foreign leaders and heads of international organizations attending the forum, she said in a statement issued here.

An opening ceremony, three high level forums on connectivity, green development and digital economy and the six thematic forums on trade and people to people connectivity will be held. Think Tank exchanges, Silk Road and sub national maritime cooperations respectively. A CEOs conference is also to be held.

China had signed Belt and Road cooperation documents with more than 150 countries and more than 30 international organizations, the foreign ministry said.

The second Belt and Road Forum was held in Beijing from April 25 to 27, 2019 drawing over 6,000 participants from more than 150 countries and 92 international organizations.

Editor: Tahir Murtaza