Cheng Hong, Vice President of All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony
date：2023-12-15 15:23:55 hits：
The 5th Belt and Road Women’s Forum successfully convened in Sanya, Hainan from December 6-8. Co-hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, and the UN Resident Coordinator Office in China, and jointly organized by the People’s Government of Sanya City, the China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development, and the Secretariat of the Belt and Road Women’s Forum. Chen Xi, Mayor of the People’s Government of Sanya City, attended the opening ceremony of the forum and delivered a speech.
Cheng Hong, Vice President of All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony.
Respected Mrs. Arya Ali,
Honored Mr. Siddharth Chatterjee,
Distinguished representatives of various embassies in China, esteemed guests,
Ladies and gentlemen, friends,
Good morning! Today, we gather in Sanya, the pearl of the South China Sea, to witness the grand opening of the 5th Belt and Road Women’s Forum. I represent the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and Chairman Wan Lijun to extend warm congratulations on the smooth convening of the forum, a heartfelt welcome to all the guests, and sincere thanks to all who have supported the development of our cause over the years.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of President Xi Jinping’s proposal of the Belt and Road Initiative. In the past decade, significant historical achievements have been made in the joint construction of the Belt and Road, making it a popular international public product and cooperation platform. Currently, over 150 countries and more than 30 international organizations have joined the Belt and Road family. From 2013 to 2022, the total import and export volume between China and participating countries reached $19.1 trillion, with an average annual growth of 6.4%. The total two-way investment surpassed $380 billion, with China’s direct investment exceeding $240 billion. The Belt and Road has become a path of cooperation, opportunity, and prosperity. In October this year, President Xi Jinping announced China’s support for eight actions for high-quality Belt and Road construction, opening new visions and injecting new momentum into the initiative.
There are over 60 million overseas Chinese, with more than two-thirds distributed in countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative. They possess strong economic capabilities, extensive networks, and mature business networks, understand the local legal rules and lifestyle, and play a unique role in the Belt and Road construction. Among them, many women have struggled with self-reliance and patriotism, repaying their homeland with practical actions, and earning respect through creation and dedication, truly embodying the spirit of ‘Women do not lose to men.’
Hainan, an important pivot of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and a key area with a large overseas Chinese population has seen its import and export scale to Belt and Road countries and regions steadily increase over the past decade, expanding from 57.4 billion yuan in 2013 to 94.4 billion yuan in 2022. Leveraging the free trade port advantages, Hainan actively connects with the world. Hosting this forum in Sanya is an important measure to implement President Xi Jinping’s speech at the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and to promote the construction of the free trade port. On this occasion, I propose three initiatives:
1. Actively participate in the construction of the Belt and Road, leveraging the unique role of overseas Chinese connecting the world. Overseas Chinese have been an important force in China’s reform and opening-up, accounting for 60% of China’s foreign direct investment since the reform began. The Overseas Chinese Affairs Office has carried out the ‘Light of Heart’ project along the Belt and Road, providing cataract surgeries for local people, becoming a popular and beneficial project. I hope that women in the overseas Chinese community will use their talents and wide connections to actively participate in the high-quality Belt and Road construction, finding their niche and contributing their ‘She Power’ to global cooperation and resource circulation.
2. Cultivate a sense of belonging to the homeland and act as a bridge for exchange and connection between China and the world. I hope that women in the overseas Chinese community will continue to use their unique advantages and cross-cultural experiences to promote friendly exchanges in various fields, sharing Chinese stories and voices globally, promoting Chinese culture, and contributing to the exchange of civilizations and the construction of a community with a shared future for humanity.
3. Actively participate and contribute to the construction of a free trade port with Chinese characteristics and global influence. Hainan has been an important starting port and supply point on the Maritime Silk Road. In recent years, it has connected the world with a multi-dimensional Silk Road. I hope that women in the overseas Chinese community will align with the strategic positioning of the Hainan Free Trade Port, actively investing and promoting their own business development while contributing to the construction of the free trade port. They should also introduce Hainan's natural and cultural beauty to the world, attracting more international friends and investors to Hainan.
In closing, I sincerely wish the Fifth Belt and Road Women's Forum great success!
Thank you, everyone.
The theme of the forum, ‘She Power: Jointly Building and Sharing a Beautiful Life,’ reflects a focus on women’s unique contributions and empowerment within the context of the Belt and Road Initiative. Organized by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, and the All-China Youth Federation, along with the People’s Government of Sanya City leadership, the forum brought together over 400 participants. These included the First Lady of Guyana, representatives from the United Nations, Nobel laureates in Physiology or Medicine, and ambassadors from Kyrgyzstan, Zambia, Maldives, Switzerland, Nepal, Guyana, Uganda, Mozambique, and various other countries, along with national and international business representatives.
During the forum, in-depth discussions and exchanges took place around the theme. Guests shared insights on the distinctive role played by women in the ten years since the Belt and Road Initiative was launched. They highlighted the substantial achievements of women and looked forward to the future of the initiative, advocating for women’s empowerment to foster common development and prosperity in human society.
2023 marks the tenth anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. Over the past decade, the Belt and Road Women’s Forum has been instrumental in showcasing the unique role of women in the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, promoting comprehensive and sustainable development for women, and enhancing people-to-people connections among the participating countries. The forum has successfully established a platform for communication and collaboration among women across the Belt and Road countries, building bridges for mutual understanding and cooperation.