China to emphasise on high quality development at second Belt and Road Forum: Foreign minister Wang Yi

China will emphasize high-quality development through win-win Belt and Road cooperation with all the participating countries at the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) to held in Beijing in April.

President Xi Jinping will give a key-note speech at the opening ceremony and chair a leaders' round-table at the April forum, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at the press conference for the second session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC).

"The 2nd BRF has three things to watch for. First, the number of foreign heads of state and government expected to attend will be much higher than that of the first forum; second, it will be a much bigger gathering with thousands of delegates from over 100 countries expected to attend; third, there will be more side events, including 12 sub-forums focusing on practical cooperation and for the first time a conference organized specifically for the business community and serving as a platform for business cooperation," he told the press.

Wang noted that China will seek high-quality common development together with other Belt and Road countries and regions through win-win cooperation and work to contribute to an open world economy.

"With the theme of 'Belt and Road Cooperation, Shaping a Brighter Shared Future', the 2nd BRF aims to promote Belt and Road cooperation and achieve high-quality development. China looks forward to a full exchange of views on our future cooperation plan," he said.

"China will build consensus with all the parties on high-quality development, follow the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, champion openness, transparency and inclusiveness and strive for green and sustainable development.

China will work further to coordinate development strategies with the participating countries, create another batch of key cooperation projects, promote the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and pay more attention to improving the lives of the people in the course of deepening cooperation.

China will act in the spirit of win-win cooperation, focus on improving connectivity and coordination with the participating countries, aim to build a stronger momentum for common development and forge an even closer partnership with them. China will champion openness and cooperation, support economic globalization, uphold multilateralism and work with all to make the world economy an open one," he added.

The first Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation was held on May 14-15, 2017 in Beijing, attended by state and government leaders of 29 countries and more than 1,600 participants from over 140 countries and 80 international organizations.