Photo taken on May 11, 2021 shows the opening ceremony of the Fifth Silk Road International Exposition and the Investment and Trade Forum for Cooperation between East and West China in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province. [Photo/Xinhua]
XI'AN — The Fifth Silk Road International Exposition opened on May 11 in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, with deeper Belt and Road economic cooperation one of the hot topics on agenda.
Themed "Interconnection, Contribution and Shared Benefits," the expo has attracted more than 1,900 envoys and guests from 98 countries and regions such as Belgium, the Republic of Korea, Tajikistan and Zambia.
Vice-Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen said the total trade volume between China and the Belt and Road countries amounted to $9.2 trillion from 2013 to 2020, and combined investment by Chinese enterprises in these countries had reached $136 billion.
"Faced with the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19, trade between China and countries along the Belt and Road showed resilience and vitality, totaling $1.36 trillion in 2020, up 1 percent year-on-year," Wang said.
The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by China in 2013, aims to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and beyond along the ancient Silk Road trade routes for common development and prosperity.
A visitor views kitchen waste disposal equipment at the Fifth Silk Road International Exposition in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, May 11, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]
Guests attend the opening ceremony of the Fifth Silk Road International Exposition and the Investment and Trade Forum for Cooperation between East and West China in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, May 11, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]
An exhibitor (1st R) introduces his products at the Fifth Silk Road International Exposition in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, May 11, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]
A visitor tries a flight simulator at the Fifth Silk Road International Exposition in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, May 11, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]
People view an aircraft displayed at the Fifth Silk Road International Exposition in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, May 11, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]
People view a car of domestic brand displayed at the Fifth Silk Road International Exposition in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, May 11, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]
