Silk Road expo explores new cooperation areas for countries

The Sixth Silk Road International Exposition came to an end in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, on Aug 18.

During the five-day expo, overseas guests and businessmen from more than 70 countries and regions such as South Korea, Thailand, and Singapore, as well as businessmen from more than 20 domestic provinces, gathered in the city.

The LQ-218 drone is displayed at the Xi'an exhibition area of the Sixth Silk Road International Exposition. [Photo/Xi'an Daily]

According to data from the Ministry of Commerce, from 2013 to 2021, the cumulative trade volume of goods between China and countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) reached nearly $11 trillion.

By the end of 2021, China had built 79 overseas economic and trade cooperation zones in 24 countries involved in the BRI with a cumulative investment of $43 billion, creating 346,000 local jobs.

"At a time when the global pandemic prevention and control situation is severe, the expo will help boost confidence in trade and investment, further strengthen the resilience of the industrial and supply chains, and be of great and far-reaching significance to the formulation of global economic and trade rules in the future," said the executive chairman of the Thailand International Chamber of Commerce.

Battery electric vehicles are on display at the Sixth Silk Road International Exposition in Xi'an. [Photo/Xi'an Daily]

The exhibits, such as smart home appliances and photovoltaic modules for new energy vehicles, displayed at the expo indicated that smart and green fields are becoming new areas of cooperation among the countries.

In addition to green and low-carbon development, all foreign guests participating in the expo expressed their willingness and expectation to seek cooperation in various other fields.

Jamshid Khodjaev, deputy prime minister and minister of Investments and Foreign Trade of Uzbekistan, expressed hope that cooperation in digital economy, e-commerce, logistics and transportation can be strengthened.

The China (Shaanxi) Uzbekistan Economic and Trade Cooperation and Cultural Tourism Promotion Conference is held on Aug 14 in Xi'an during the Sixth Silk Road International Exposition. [Photo/Xi'an Daily]