Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) —  The Forum of International Cooperation of Think Tanks under the "Belt and Road" initiative and the Second Silk Road International Communication Forum (Xi’an) were recently held in Xi’an, a city in the northwest of China, in Shaanxi Province.

Under the theme "Promoting High-Quality Cooperation within the Belt and Road Initiative to Facilitate Shared Modernization," over 300 diplomats, experts, and journalists from more than 50 countries gathered to exchange ideas and discuss key issues. Representatives of media and think tanks from Uzbekistan were also among the participants.

Zhao Yide, Secretary of the Shaanxi Provincial Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, emphasized the significant changes that have taken place in Xi’an— the eastern starting point of the ancient Silk Road—amid the active development of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

He expressed hope that international partners would continue to support the region by focusing on policy coordination, improving infrastructure connections, boosting trade, financial integration, and cultural exchanges, all of which would contribute to the high-quality development of the BRI.

Fu Hua, President of Xinhua News Agency and Chairman of the Belt and Road Initiative Research Network, noted in his speech that BRI has brought tangible benefits to countries worldwide, addressing global development challenges and improving the global governance system. He stated that BRI paves the way for shared modernization for humanity.

During the opening ceremony, a report titled "Eight Key Steps" was presented, highlighting new prospects for a decade of cooperation under the BRI. The report emphasized the importance of strengthening practical cooperation, fostering innovative growth, managing risks, and improving collaboration mechanisms.

It also focused on the need to counter negative propaganda aimed at undermining the initiative, including false narratives about a "debt trap" and "neocolonialism." Participating countries were urged to maintain unity and cooperation to mitigate external threats and reinforce internal consensus.

The three-day event, organized by Xinhua News Agency, the Shaanxi Provincial Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, and the People’s Government of Shaanxi Province, included field studies, cultural exchanges, and parallel forums. Participants also visited various sites in Shaanxi Province.

The Belt and Road Initiative, launched by China, aims to strengthen economic ties between countries through infrastructure projects and trade routes. Xi’an, as a crucial hub city, plays a key role in implementing this initiative, continuing the traditions of the ancient Silk Road and facilitating its expansion on the global stage.