Global connectivity through the Belt and Road Initiative enhancing development and improving infrastructure in various regions.
Nicaraguan Ambassador to China, Michael Campbell, has been an outspoken supporter of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), introduced by President Xi Jinping in 2013.
He has frequently described the BRI as “an emblematic, groundbreaking proposal for the world.”
Last month, Nicaragua participated as a guest country of honor at the seventh China International Import Expo in Shanghai. During the event, the ambassador actively promoted Nicaraguan products like beef, seafood, and coffee.
“Nicaragua is part of China’s significant cooperation programs such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative,” Campbell shared with China Daily. He also expressed support for China’s efforts to create a more multipolar world characterized by peace, justice, and equality.
By October 2024, over 150 countries and 30 international organizations had signed Belt and Road cooperation agreements, resulting in the creation of over 420,000 local jobs in partner nations, according to China’s Foreign Ministry.
The Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee recognizes the joint building of the BRI as a key innovation in China’s diplomatic strategy in the modern era.
The Foreign Ministry reports that the BRI has mobilized nearly $1 trillion in global investments and helped lift 40 million people out of poverty.
China’s Ambassador to Tonga, Liu Weimin, noted in an article last month that as the BRI enters its second decade, new opportunities are emerging for global collaboration.
Since its inception in 2013, BRI partnerships have expanded beyond the Eurasian region to include Africa, Oceania, and Latin America.
The initiative is building a global connectivity network, comprising economic corridors, international transport routes, and information highways. Signature projects and localized, people-centered programs have also been implemented, analysts highlighted.
A report by the London-based think tank ODI Global, released in September, praised the BRI for significantly improving global connectivity. It emphasized the role of China’s financing in bridging infrastructure gaps in developing nations, while also noting that partner countries’ domestic circumstances will influence the outcomes of BRI projects.
In October, President Xi Jinping and Peruvian President Dina Boluarte attended the virtual opening of Chancay Port, a flagship BRI project in Lima, Peru.
Once the port’s first phase is completed, shipping times between Peru and China will be reduced to 23 days, lowering logistics costs by at least 20%.
This project is expected to generate $4.5 billion in annual revenue for Peru and create over 8,000 jobs. President Boluarte remarked that the Peru-China BRI initiative will position Peru as a critical link between Latin America and Asia, driving regional integration and prosperity.
Samoa, a Pacific island nation, has also seen notable advantages from its collaboration with China through the BRI.
As one of the first Pacific nations to establish diplomatic ties with China and sign a Belt and Road cooperation memorandum, Samoa has benefited from several China-backed projects.
For example, Samoa’s China-supported government building, featured on the nation’s new banknotes, has become a popular landmark. Additionally, Faleolo International Airport, modernized by a Chinese company, stands out as one of the most advanced airports in the South Pacific, according to Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning.
Kong Xianhua, China’s Consul General in Mumbai, India, described the BRI as a critical driver of globalization, providing stabilizing energy and promoting peaceful development amid global uncertainties.
In 2023, China’s trade with BRI partner countries hit 19.5 trillion yuan ($2.7 trillion), comprising 46.6% of its total trade volume — the highest since the initiative’s launch.
Sun Zhuangzhi, a director at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, highlighted the evolution of the BRI beyond infrastructure development. It now strengthens connections across physical, digital, and cultural dimensions.
He added that the BRI has entered a phase of sustainable development, emerging as a significant pathway to global solidarity, economic recovery, and growth, while contributing to building a shared future for humanity.
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