Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently concluded his successful visit to three Asia-Pacific countries, displaying China's willingness to strengthen cooperation with the region. As good friends and economic partners based on mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit, China's relations with regional countries are evolving and constantly reaching new heights.

Azerbaijan hopes to attract more Chinese investors as the country is pursuing sustainable development and green transformation, as well as greater transport connectivity and other economic goals under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), officials from Azerbaijan said at the Azerbaijan Investment and Trade Promotion Conference held at the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Beijing on Tuesday.

At the ongoing two sessions, the annual meetings of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature, and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, the top political advisory body, hot topics have been proposed and discussed that relate to both China and the world. One particular highlight is the discussions over the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which has just marked its decade of anniversary last year and is now embarking on the next decade of a new journey for high-quality development.

A China-Europe freight train, loaded with new-energy vehicles manufactured in China, sounded its horn as it slowly departed from Xi'an International Port Station in Shaanxi Province, Northwest China, bound for Europe.

A special campaign to promote China's booming ice and snow tourism resources has recently been launched in Dubai, the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Among all the good wishes for stronger cooperation between China and Uzbekistan, the early construction and launch of the railway project linking China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan would be a significant achievement for Liu Yu. As the executive chairman of the Uzbek Chamber of Commerce for Chinese Entrepreneurs and an early business pioneer in the Central Asian country, Liu's expectations for closer connectivity between neighboring countries in the region are indescribable.

China has been a dependable partner in the development of the Maldives, and there are various areas in which both sides can strengthen bilateral cooperation under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), ranging from the blue economy and digital economy to green technology, as well as infrastructure, the Maldives National Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MNCCI) told the Global Times.

With the rapid approach of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which will kick off in Cote d'Ivoire on January 13, global sports fans are waiting with bated breath. Global attention has also been focused on the six state-of-the-art host stadiums in recent days, some of which were designed and constructed by Chinese enterprises.

China and Nicaragua announced an upgrade in the bilateral relationship to strategic partnership in December 2023, after the two countries resumed diplomatic relations in 2021. On the first day of 2024, the China-Nicaragua Free Trade Agreement (FTA) entered into effect. Embarking on a new starting point, China and Nicaragua are expected to further deepen bilateral cooperation and strengthen friendship between their peoples. Global Times reporter Liu Yang (GT) recently conducted an exclusive interview with Michael Campbell (Campbell), Nicaraguan Ambassador to China, in which Campbell shared three pillars of bilateral cooperation during the past two years and the bright prospects for economic and trade ties under the FTA. He also noted that China-Nicaragua economic ties will grow and create tangible benefits for the entire Central American region.

The year of 2024 marks the beginning of the second decade of the development of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a global cooperation platform China proposed in 2013 to support and add vitality to economic globalization and help resolve global development challenges and improve global governance system. How will the "the global project of the century" navigate in the next 10 years? And how should it adapt to cope with the ever-changing global geopolitical landscape? The Global Times (GT) invited a number of Chinese and foreign scholars to share their perspectives.

Malaysia's East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) is a landmark project of cooperation under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) , and it is hoped that practical cooperation between China and Malaysia will continue to deepen, Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

In a bid to deepen international cooperation in the industrial chain and supply chain, China is hosting the first China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) from Tuesday to Saturday in Beijing. This is the world's first national-level exhibition themed on supply chains, which focuses on promoting global industrial chain and supply chain cooperation.

The “Silk Road” e-commerce, an international cooperation platform for trade and economic cooperation under the important Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has formed a structure for growing digital partnership, while helped promote mutual growth and cooperation among all participating economies.

On the shore of a port in Fuzhou, East China's Fujian Province, rows of containers are neatly stacked, ready to be transported from this important starting point and birthplace of the ancient Maritime Silk Road to Indonesia, Sri Lanka, South Africa and elsewhere.

The China proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has brought the vision of “heart connectivity” to reality, and it is a path to common development, multiple ambassadors and officials from BRI partner countries said on Wednesday during a roundtable held in Fuzhou, East China's Fujian Province.

Chinese companies' participation in Chile's infrastructure has made a significant contribution to the country's economic development and has helped increase Chile's competitiveness in the region, Nicolas Grau, the Minister of Economy of Chile, stated in an exclusive face-to-face interview with the Global Times.

The relations between China and Fiji are "solid and inclusive," and the two countries are "relating to each other as families," Fiji's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame R. Gavoka told the Global Times in a recent exclusive interview. He also expected the two countries to "build on" the fruitful cooperation results under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), especially in green development and tourism.

Facing numerous false, one-sided reports about the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) from the Western media, officials and journalists from home and abroad proposed on Thursday that more on-site investigations are needed to explore the truth, so as to facilitate the high-quality development of the BRI.

China has seen a rise in patent applications from countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in the past ten years amid closer economic and trade exchanges, official data showed on Tuesday.

The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been instrumental in promoting connectivity between China and Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, helping their economies to diversify, and fostering bilateral ties, business representatives from the bloc said on Tuesday. They also expressed high hopes that the cooperation will become “deeper” and “greener” as the high-quality BRI cooperation enters a new stage of development following its 10th anniversary.

China and the Philippines are BRI partners. Trade and economic collaboration is central to growing the bilateral ties. In 2022, two-way trade reached $87.7 billion, rising by 7.1 percent. China has remained the Philippines' top trading partner for seven consecutive years. In the face of new circumstances and challenges, economic cooperation is expected to play a pivotal role to accelerate bilateral relationship. In an exclusive interview with Maynard S. Ngu (Ngu), Special Envoy of the President of the Philippines to China for Trade, Investment and Tourism, Ngu discussed with the Global Times (GT) reporter Yin Yeping the positive outcomes of their joint construction of the BRI.

On a summer afternoon this year, bridge cranes were in constant movement, loading and unloading massive cargo ships at the container terminal of the Port of Piraeus, about 10 kilometers southwest of Athens. A seemingly endless stream of ferries was arriving or departing the port. Rows of new cars were parked on the dock waiting to be shipped.

In recent years, China and Greece have continuously promoted high-quality joint construction of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC). Among all cooperation, port cooperation in particular encapsulates win-win results and helps the two major shipping countries to secure the world supply chain and prosper together. Global Times reporter Yin Yeping (GT) had an exclusive interview with the current Greek Secretary General for Maritime Affairs and Ports, Evangelos Kyriazopoulos (Kyriazopoulos), who shared with GT how China-Greece cooperation bears fruit under the joint construction of BRI and what to look forward next under this cooperation.

In March 2017, New Zealand became the first developed Western economy to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). As the BRI celebrates its 10th anniversary, the Global Times recently conducted an interview with Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Wang Xiaolong regarding cooperation under the BRI and development in bilateral ties.

If one thing could epitomize the stronger connectivity between China and Central and Eastern Europe, it is the rising use of their own currencies to settle trade and investment.

When standing on the vast farmland of Mahitsy, northwest of Madagascar's capital Antananarivo, we would feel a little bit confused, as the view is exactly the same as in southern China. We saw the cattle walking along the vast rice planting farmland, the red soil exposed under the sun after being plowed, and the children running around the fields.

Standing atop the construction site of the 18-story FHL Commercial Tower in the heart of Suva's Business District, one can savor an expansive vista of the capital city sprawling out toward the endless expanse of the Pacific Ocean.

Hungary has been partnering with China on propelling the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for more than 8 years, injecting momentum into their solid strategic partnership. On the 10th anniversary of the BRI, the Global Times reporter Yin Yeping (GT) interviewed Yang Chao (Yang), the Chinese Embassy's chargé d'affaires in Hungary, discussing how this partnership has thrived amid global geopolitical challenges.

The award ceremony for the Fifth Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) Short Video Competition took place in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, on Thursday. It aimed to share touching and engaging stories about the achievements and integration of civilizations brought by the BRI's construction in various countries and regions worldwide.

Despite constant claims from Western media that the Chinese-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is unwelcomed by the people of recipient countries and has caused conflict over environmental and employment issues, a recent fieldtrip by the Global Times to three Southeast Asian countries revealed a very different reality on the ground.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Wednesday took a test ride on the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR), a landmark project under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The test ride came as Li kicked off an official visit to Indonesia this week, where he is also attending the 26th China-ASEAN Summit, the 26th ASEAN Plus Three Summit and the 18th East Asia Summit.

As cool and pleasant breezes blow toward the central plateau of Madagascar, it is a signal that the rainy season is over, and it is time to harvest the crops.

People-to-people exchanges have played a crucial role in the success of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Over the past decade, an increasing number of Africans have had the opportunity to learn about Chinese history and culture through various channels, particularly Chinese TV dramas. Similarly, more Chinese individuals have gained a deeper understanding of Africa, which has laid a solid foundation for fostering closer relations between the two regions.

Tesfaye Hailemicheal and his colleagues have settled in the new headquarters of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) for over six months now. Hailemicheal still finds himself drawn to the meeting room across from his office. From there, he can admire the breathtaking views of the sleek, curved structure and the intricately layered sunshade components, showcasing the marvels of modern biotechnology. On the right side, he can observe Ethiopia's bustling city of Addis Ababa, with its roads filled with traffic from various directions and passing pedestrians.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the proposal of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Over the past decade, Africa has emerged as a prime example of how the BRI has delivered tangible benefits to both China and Africa, fostering closer ties between the two sides. The remarkable progress can be seen in the numerous infrastructure projects undertaken by Chinese companies, the increasing investments in Africa, the growing China-Africa trade, and the strengthening of people-to-people exchanges.

During a recent visit to Ethiopia, Kenya, and some other African countries, Global Times reporters visited several vocational education institutes, where they talked to young people and found that their work at Chinese companies have provided them with a decent life as well as opportunities to pursuit their dreams. China-Africa cooperation on vocational education has not only greatly ignited the dreams of African youth but also encouraged new markets and industrial chains, helping to drive and diversify the African economy.

Fei Rongwei, a civil engineer from a Beijing-based firm, still remembers his first sight when he landed at Antananarivo Ivato International Airport in Madagascar.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a global cooperation platform that demonstrates China's vision and provides solutions for the reformation of the global governance system and other challenges. Reflecting on the development of the BRI over the last decade, there has been no shortage of evidence demonstrating its success. Standing at this monumental juncture, the Global Times is publishing a series of articles to help readers understand the fruitful journey of the BRI in the past 10 years from multiple perspectives, and how the initiative will proceed in the future. This is the sixth installment in the series, examining how the Kuantan Port in Malaysia has risen to be an important trade hub because of BRI.

A batch of mechanical parts and flowers weighing 16 tons and worth 1.65 million yuan was sent to Almaty from Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport on Wednesday, which marks the opening of Gansu's first international cargo route connecting with Central Asian countries. It also marks the province's efforts to open up to the West and to increase cooperation with Central Asian countries through the Belt and Road Initiative.

The year 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Malaysia, with next year witnessing the 50th anniversary of establishment of the diplomatic relations between the two countries. Earlier this year, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim reached a consensus on building a community of shared future for China and Malaysia, after Anwar's successful visit to China in late March. How have China and Malaysia maintained strong cooperation momentum? What practical benefits will the "Twin Parks" and the East Coast Rail Link project under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) framework deliver to local people? What are the points of convergence between China's and Malaysia's development concepts? How should Southeast Asian countries respond to advocacy of the "China threat" theory by external forces? GT reporters Hu Yuwei, Li Xuanmin, Hao Shuangyan and Zhao Juecheng (GT) recently interviewed Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing (Ouyang) in Kuala Lumpur to hear his insights on the current state of bilateral relations and cooperation.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a global cooperation platform that demonstrates China's vision for development and offers solutions for the reform of the global governance system and multi-faceted challenges. Against this backdrop, the Global Times is publishing a series of interviews with renowned scholars, think tank experts and analysts at financial institutions, sharing their insights and understanding of how this initiative has earned global recognition and growing esteem. This is the 10th installment in the series.

Zheng Shanjie, head of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the top economic planner, and Levan Davitashvili, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, signed a cooperation deal on Monday to jointly build the Belt and Road between the two countries.

Amid an accelerating wave of de-dollarization across the world, Bolivia has become the third South American nation to use Chinese yuan for trade settlement, and the Bolivian government is pushing for the opening of Chinese banks in the country as soon as possible, according to media reports.

China and Italy have seen continuous economic and trade development, with bilateral trade volume reaching a new high for three consecutive years. According to a survey by the Italy China Council Foundation, 84 percent of Italian companies hold a positive outlook on the prospects of China-Italy economic and trade relations. The commendable achievements can be attributed to the successful implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which Italy signed with China in 2019.

Practical cooperation and visible achievements within the framework of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) continue to increase, and the narrative of BRI cooperation being "futile" is baseless, as the facts speak for themselves, Chinese Ambassador to Italy Jia Guide said in an interview with the Global Times.

Editor's Note: As the highly anticipated BRICS Summit 2023 will soon be held in Johannesburg, South Africa in August, South African Ambassador to China Siyabonga Cyprian Cwele (Cwele) expressed his expectations for the upcoming summit in core areas such as the group's further contribution in promoting the global recovery post-epidemic in an exclusive interview with Global Times (GT) reporter Xiong Xinyi. Cwele also highlighted the achievements that have been made and the unleashed potential for the cooperation between China and South Africa as well as between China and African nations under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Ports both domestic and overseas are calling for closer collaboration under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which marks its 10th anniversary this year. They made the call at an annual industry forum in Ningbo, the prominent nexus of transport and logistics in East China's Zhejiang Province, as they embark on a new journey to tackle global challenges such as inflation, economic slowdown and geopolitical uncertainty.

China and Algeria are set to strengthen cooperation under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), with the scope and depth of investment expanding from traditional sectors such as basic infrastructure and energy to emerging areas like aerospace, telecommunications and new energy, representatives from Chinese companies said amid Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune's ongoing five-day state visit to China.

Solomon Islands, with a population of more than 700,000, is a beautiful country consisting of six major islands and more than 900 smaller islands in Melanesia, South Pacific.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic will attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in China in October, according to Jelena Begovic, Minister of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of Serbia.

Recently, Global Times reporter Li Xuanmin (GT) conducted an interview with Wirun Phichaiwongphakdee (Wirun), director of the Thailand-China Research Center of the Belt and Road Initiative and Researcher at the Thailand-China Strategic Research Center at the National Research Institute of Thailand. The interview focuses on the BRI and how the initiative has been facilitating trade and infrastructure connectivity in ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). According to him, the China-proposed BRI has not only become a genuine driver of regional growth, but also provides a unique path of prosperity for ASEAN economies based on win-win cooperation.

Italy is willing to become a bridge connecting Europe and China and continue to play a positive role in EU-China relations, Antonio Tajani, Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, said on Tuesday in Rome when meeting with Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

If Italy chooses to withdraw from the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a platform that demonstrates the political mutual trust and strategic cooperation with China, it will have a negative impact on Italy's image, credibility, and cooperation, the Chinese Ambassador to Italy, Jia Guide, said.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a global cooperation platform that demonstrates China's vision of global development and offers solutions to the reform of the global governance system and multi-faceted challenges. Against this backdrop, the Global Times is publishing a series of interviews with renowned scholars, think tanks and financial institutions, sharing their insights and understanding of how this initiative has earned global recognition and growing esteem. This is the eighth installment in the series. Recently, Global Times reporter Li Xuanmin (GT) conducted an interview with Helga Zepp-LaRouche (HZL), founder of Germany-based Schiller Institute, a political and economic think tank. The interview focuses on the BRI and Europe's policies toward China, including the two D-words (decoupling and de-risking), which, she said, are basically the same and illustrate implicitly the intention of the US and its allies to contain China's economic rise.

The US' use of the alleged African debt trap claim as an excuse against China in an attempt to hamper the healthy and sustainable development of the regional countries under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) have been intensified, highlighted by the recent visits of US Vice President Kamala Harris to Africa, who pointed finger to African debt issue and China's alleged role in it, an allegation that has been refuted by many experts from both sides.

Good relations with China are possible even without being part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in an interview published on Sunday amid speculation that the Italian government was considering withdrawing from the initiative.

Uruguay's Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries Fernando Mattos just finished his 19-day trip in China on Friday, with fruitful results of bilateral agricultural cooperation including agreements between two agricultural ministries as well as institutions.

Chen Zhijin, a representative of JD Yuanhong Food Digital Economy Industry Center, never thought the center's food products are being shipped to Indonesia so sooner after the company was established.

Debugging and testing began on Monday on the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR), a landmark project under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It marks an important milestone before the full launch of the project.

China-Europe freight train service has witnessed solid growth in the first four months of this year, given a continuous rise of transport capacity and efficiency, data from China State Railway Group showed.

Cooperative projects between China and Central Asian countries rolled out in succession before and after the two-day China-Central Asia Summit held in Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province on Friday.

With the first ever in-person summit between top leaders of China and five Central Asian countries in 31 years fast approaching, the China-Central Asia Summit is expected to open on May 18 and 19 in Xi'an, capital city of Northwest China's Shaanxi Province. At the same time, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan is scheduled to pay a state visit to China upon invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Purchase orders worth more than 10 billion yuan ($1.45 billion) for goods from Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) are expected to be placed at the upcoming third China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair in China, an official said on Sunday.

Foreign ministers of China, Afghanistan, and Pakistan have agreed to enhance trilateral cooperation in economy, poverty reduction, and agriculture, and plan to extend the project of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan during the China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' Dialogue on Sunday.

China and Argentina have been close partners for decades and such a relationship has been further strengthened under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), exemplified by the joint development of pillar infrastructure projects such as dam, powerhouse, and railway construction, which inject real impetus to the country's sustainable development.

“I as a Pakistani can say that Pakistan has benefited tremendously from the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that China proposed,” said special assistant to the Pakistani Prime Minister and former special envoy for the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Zafar Uddin Mahmood.

Latin America is an indispensable and important participant in the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). In recent years, more and more countries in Latin America and the Caribbean are working with China to advance high-quality BRI cooperation, creating opportunities for an increasing number of local residents.

Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway, a signature project under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), with a design speed of 350 kilometers per hour, has announced completion of the entire track-laying process, with full line operation set to start soon.

The real beauty of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is the idea of sharing, and the BRI is of in-depth vision, international observers said on Tuesday at a panel session of the ongoing Boao Forum for Asia.

On March 19, 2023, the Belgrade-Budapest Railway (Belgrade-Novi Sad section), a landmark project under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), will soon welcome its first anniversary. With its outstanding product and service quality, the Belgrade-Novi Sad railway has offered a speedy, convenient, and comfort travel experience to the Serbian people. The railway is significant not only for the development of Serbia but also for the connectivity improvement between the region and other parts of Europe and Asia, contributing to improved connectivity among Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC). Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has, on multiple occasions, commended the progress made by the railway.

Beijing launches its first China-Europe freight train, connecting with Moscow

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a high-quality public good initiated by China and jointly built by all partners, whose benefits are shared by the world. It has attracted the participation of more than three-fourths of the countries in the world and 32 international organizations, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang stressed on Tuesday at a press conference during the ongoing two sessions.

A deal for Myanmar's first wind power project with the participation of a Chinese energy infrastructure company was signed on Wednesday, a major step in bilateral new-energy cooperation, the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar said in a statement released on Thursday.

China plays a vital role in international infrastructure buildup, especially under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Foreign envoys have hailed China's overseas infrastructure projects, saying they have brought tangible socioeconomic benefits to local communities by promoting connectivity and creating jobs.

The Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable is set to be launched in Bengaluru on the sidelines of the G20 meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) which will be held on Friday and Saturday. The meeting will bring in key stakeholders to discuss issues that have been impeding a timely debt restructuring process.

Editor's Note: This year marks the 10th anniversary of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a global cooperation platform that demonstrates China's vision and provides solutions to the reform of the global governance system and multifaceted challenges. Against this backdrop, the Global Times is publishing a series of interviews with renowned scholars, think tanks, and financial institutions, sharing their insights and understanding of how the initiative has earned global recognition and reshaped global development. This is the first installment in the series.

China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said on Saturday that China is willing to work with Nicaragua to promote the high-quality construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and looks forward to moving forward with the negotiation and signing of a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), the official website of the ministry read on Monday.

Editor's Note: In 2018, Ecuador joined the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Over the past five years, the two countries reaped fruitful results in economic and trade cooperation as well as cultural and other exchanges. Recently, the two sides concluded the bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations at the technical level. Global Times (GT) reporter Liu Yang conducted an exclusive interview with Carlos Larrea (Carlos), Ambassador of Ecuador to China, in which the Ambassador shared his views on building up China-Ecuador good relations and close partnerships in Latin America, and he highly appreciated China's anti-COVID contribution to the international community in the past years.

Situated in the Amazon basin, 100 kilometers east of Ecuador's capital Quito, the Coca Codo Sinclair (CCS) hydroelectric plant, a signature project in South America, and the biggest hydroelectric power station in the country has recently fallen prey to Western smears, as part of a relentless attack by Western media sources on China proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The main difference this time is the change in focus from the alleged "debt trap" to the alleged "construction flaws."

Cracks found in a China-built hydropower plant in Ecuador will not affect its operation and safety, and the plant is safe for its 50-year design life, but some foreign media outlets have produced one-sided reports that do not give the full picture of the situation, the Chinese Embassy in Ecuador told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Editor's Note: This year marks the 10th anniversary of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a global cooperation platform that demonstrates China's vision and provides solutions for the reformation of the global governance system and other multifaceted challenges. Reflecting on the development of the BRI over the last decade, there has been no shortage of evidence demonstrating its success, a momentum that relentless Western crackdowns and smears were unable to curtail.

Standing on this monumental juncture, the Global Times is publishing a series of articles to help readers understand the fruitful journey of the BRI over the last decade from multiple perspectives, and how the initiative will positively commence over the year. This is the first installment in the series, examining the impressive development of the China-Europe freight train.

The phase one of the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters, a China-aided project, was completed on Wednesday, with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang - who's on a seven-day visit to Africa - and Moussa Faki Mahamat, African Union Commission chairperson, attending the ceremony.

Echoing increasing cooperation between China and Nepal, a new international airport built by a Chinese company with Chinese loans was inaugurated in Nepal on Sunday, with officials from both countries hailing the project as a major success of bilateral cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The renovation and expansion project of St. John's Harbor, a project under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) framework between China and Antigua and Barbuda, has recently been completed, CCTV reported. Upon its completion, the port is able to host multiple container ships and cruise ships simultaneously, transforming it into a real transport hub for the region.

A discussion of shift to use Chinese yuan in China-Saudi oil settlement is increasingly rising recently amid an ongoing visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the country - the trip marks epoch-making milestone in China-Arab relation and also raises hopes for a more deepened energy tie for years to come.

"Seek knowledge even if you have to go as far as China."

The China-Laos Railway has carried a total of 8.5 million passenger trips and 11.2 million tons of cargos as of Friday on its first anniversary, according to a statement sent to the Global Times by China Railway.

Chile Week, the largest promotional event of the Chilean products in China, celebrated its seventh edition at the Chilean Embassy in Beijing on Tuesday, an important milestone for bilateral trade ties, which have blossomed under the two-way Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the first of its kind between China and a Latin-American country, combined with the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

China-Laos-Thailand high-speed railway is expected to play an important role in enhancing regional connectivity, further slashing transportation time and cost from the current level, a senior Thai researcher stated.

China and Thailand are close friendly neighbors, with a popular belief in both countries that the two people are as close as family. As China's comprehensive strategic cooperative partner, Thailand is located in the center of Southeast Asia and is connected to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members by sea and land, holding an important strategic position in promoting the framework cooperation of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road" between the two countries has achieved fruitful results, and major cooperation projects such as the China-Thailand railway, the landmark project which represents the high-quality construction of the BRI, have made solid progress. The project will also be Thailand's first standard-gauge railway, which marks a new era for the two sides jointly building a community of a shared future not only between China and Thailand but for the entire region.This is the fourth in a series of articles scoping the developing of the BRI in ASEAN members.

The Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR), which connects Indonesia's capital Jakarta and its fourth-largest city Bandung, is a landmark project under the BRI and an example of the practical cooperation between China and Indonesia.

Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road - an important component of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) - back in 2013 during a state visit to Indonesia. The alignment of the proposal with Indonesia's Global Maritime Fulcrum strategy has witnessed robust growth of bilateral economic cooperation in recent years, demonstrating great resilience and vitality. China has become the largest trade partner for Indonesia for nine consecutive years, while Chinese enterprises' investment has made remarkable contribution to local development.

From November 14 to 17, Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia. Back in a 2013 visit to Indonesia, Xi proposed that the two countries jointly build the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, which together with the Silk Road Economic Belt, makes up the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Since then, BRI has been advancing at a remarkable speed, playing an increasingly crucial role in supporting the economic development of ASEAN, the world's fifth largest economy.

At Pailin province in western Cambodia, local farmers have come to their busiest time of the year as the harvest time of longan has just begun in October and can last until May next year. Different from any other time, Pailin, the country's major production base for longan, has secured big orders against the backdrop of a new deal inked between China and Cambodia on October 27, marking the official debut of Cambodian longan export to China, its largest market for agricultural products, after banana and mango.

China and Pakistan will expand cooperation in key areas of trade, investment, infrastructure, manufacturing, agriculture and IT, Pakistani Ambassador to China Moin ul Haque told the Global Times in an exclusive interview over the weekend, ahead of the official visit of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to China starting on Tuesday.

The Hunutlu Thermal Power Plant, the largest China-invested power plant in Turkey, is now fully operational after construction started in September 2019. The modern power plant will be managed and operated by China.

With the last 900-ton simple girder falling steadily into place on the No 24 bridge of Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway on Sunday, the task of erecting box girders on the whole rail line was successfully completed with the 13 tunnels fully opened, laying a solid foundation for the completion and opening to traffic of the landmark railway in June 2023, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Mongolia and China share a border of more than 4,700 kilometers, and both countries are strategic partners and friendly and good-neighboring countries, exemplified by the fact that China has been Mongolia's largest source of investment and trading partner for 18 consecutive years. On September 15, the heads of China, Mongolia and Russia extended the Outline of the Development Plan on Establishing the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor by five years in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, unleashing greater potentials for the regional prosperity while upgrading Mongolia's role as a transit hub between the East and the West.

In 2013, China put forward the "Belt and Road Initiative" (BRI), aimed at building a new platform for international cooperation and creating new momentum for shared development. And the investment under the BRI is constantly interconnecting with Europe, including North Europe.