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China kicks off 20th Communist Party Congress as Xi Jinping prepares to expand power

By Jessie Yeung and Simone McCarthy , CNN

Here are the main takeaways from Xi Jinping's opening speech to China's Party Congress today

Chinese leader Xi Jinping kicked off the Communist Party Congress on Sunday with a nearly two-hour speech, which highlighted several key domestic and international priorities — and offered hints into Xi's vision for the country's future.

Here are the main takeaways:

The Covid strategy: China is one of the world's last major economies adhering to zero-Covid, which aims to stamp out chains of transmission using border controls, snap lockdowns, mass testing and mandatory quarantine. Despite the heavy toll on the economy and growing public frustration, Xi defended this policy on Sunday, indicating it may not be going anywhere soon.

On Hong Kong: The semi-autonomous city has seen significant social, political and economic upheaval for the last few years, with massive protests in 2019 followed by a sweeping crackdown — and its own Covid crisis. On Sunday, Xi claimed that Beijing's measures in the city — including imposing a national security law and overhauling the electoral system — had turned Hong Kong "from chaos to governance."

On Taiwan: Xi took a strong stance on the self-governing island, which the Communist Party claims as its territory despite never having controlled it.

China has the "resolve and ability" to maintain its "territorial integrity," including its claim to Taiwan, said Xi — and offered a stern warning.

"We will continue to strive for peaceful reunification with the greatest of sincerity and the upmost effort, but we will never promise to renounce the use of force and we reserve the option of taking all measures necessary," he said.

Economic growth: Facing an economy in crisis after years of isolation on the world stage and internal regulatory crackdowns, Xi said on Sunday that China would focus on education and innovation to "renew growth."

China will “speed up efforts to achieve greater self-reliance in science and technology," he said, in comments that come just months after his recent crackdown on the country’s private sector and major tech companies.

Bulking up the military: Xi also vowed to speed up efforts to build the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) into a “world-class military," pledging to improve the PLA's ability to safeguard national sovereignty.

He urged the PLA to strengthen its training "under combat conditions" and improve its "ability to win."

Socialism and repression: Xi emphasized the need to build "cultural confidence" and develop China's socialist culture.

China must "firmly grasp the party's leadership over ideological work," he said — which appeared to signal tightening controls on Chinese society, which has already seen a ramping up of online censorship and a sharp crackdown on civil society and dissent under Xi's 10-year rule.

A few other notable highlights:

• Nearly the whole hall was masked — with just the 25-member Politburo, including Xi, and some party elders in the front row going bare-faced.
• The Peng Shuai official: Zhang Gaoli, a former Party official accused of sexually assaulting tennis star Peng Shuai , sat in a prominent position behind Xi during the speech — the first time he's been spotted at a live event since the allegation.
• The speech was shorter: It ran at just under two hours, compared to Xi's previous speech at the 2017 Party Congress, which stretched more than three hours.
• Eyes on the tea: Xi paused several times to clear his throat and sip tea — raising some eyebrows among observers online. The attention paid to such a small gesture speaks volumes about the scrutiny on Xi, the amount of power he wields and his outsized role in China's governance, said CNN Beijing Bureau Chief Steven Jiang.

"Security," "development," and other buzzwords in Xi's two-hour speech

From CNN's Yong Xiong in New York and Simone McCarthy in Hong Kong

Xi Jinping's address on Sunday clocked in at just under two hours, significantly shorter than his last Party Congress address in 2017 which stretched to more than three hours.

Sunday's speech was peppered with several highly repeated terms, shining a light on some of Xi's areas of emphasis.

Xi repeated the Chinese term for security around 50 times, at one point calling national security the “foundation of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation."

He also urged enhancing security in military, economy and “all aspects,” both at home and abroad.

Xi also emphasized “development,” both of the nation and its ideology, as well in tangible sectors like the economy, rule of law and technological prowess. The term appeared more than 100 times in the report.

Both of those terms were also widely used in the last speech he delivered five years ago — which was more than 27,000 Chinese characters, compared to over 14,000 characters this year.

“Security” appeared in the 2017 document only a handful of times more than it did in this year’s, despite the difference in character count.

If you're just joining us, here's what you need to know

From CNN's Simone McCarthy

For those just joining us, here's what has happened so far with China's Communist Party Congress.

What it is: The congress is a week-long conclave that meets once every five years to choose new leaders, discuss changes to the party constitution and lay out a policy agenda for the country. It's attended by nearly 2,300 carefully selected Communist Party members, called delegates, from around the country.

Xi's speech: Chinese leader Xi Jinping formally opened the meeting on Sunday with a nearly two-hour speech about the party's achievements in the past five years, as well as its priorities for the next five.

He highlighted several geopolitical hotspots including Hong Kong and Taiwan; and laid out domestic goals for China's troubled economy, looming demographic crisis, developing socialist culture and strengthening of the military.

Who attends the meeting: Party delegates range from top provincial officials and military officers to professionals across sectors, and so-called grassroots representatives like farmers and industrial workers.

This cohort also includes the hierarchy of the Chinese Communist Party, which is among the world’s largest political parties with more than 96 million members.

The levels of power: There are three distinct rings in that hierarchy. Around 400 of the National Congress delegates are members of the Party’s elite Central Committee, which in turn includes the members of the upper echelon: the 25-member Politburo and its Standing Committee – China’s most powerful decision-making body, typically composed of five to nine men and led by the general secretary.

Focus on the Party: The meeting is all about the Communist Party – the overarching source of power in China – and will ultimately guide who fills government positions.

In recent decades these meetings – which take place almost entirely behind closed doors – have seen a streamlined transfer of power: the convention is for the top party leader, having completed two five-year terms, to pass the baton to a carefully chosen successor who is revealed at the end of the congress. 

But this time around, Xi is expected to upend that precedent, pitching China into a new era of strongman rule and uncertainty over when or how the country would see another leader. 

Read more here:

What is China's Communist Party Congress and why does it matter? | CNN

Hong kong, once china's city of dissent, will be watching the party congress as crackdown continues.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping launched into his nearly two-hour speech on Sunday with several key priorities — one of which is an international financial hub in the country's south, long known as China's city of dissent.

Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous metropolis and former British colony, has long stood apart from other Chinese cities with its own judicial system, currency, global trade relationships, and civil liberties – a model of governance called "One Country, Two Systems."

But many in Hong Kong have long feared China's encroachment on those rare freedoms, prompting numerous protests and calls for greater democracy over the years — including the massive 2019 pro-democracy anti-government protests.

Crackdown in Hong Kong: The protests posed an unprecedented open challenge to Xi and the central government – which swiftly imposed a sweeping national security law in Hong Kong in 2020. The law has since been used to jail protesters and activists, shut down independent newsrooms, target former elected lawmakers, and impose new forms of censorship.

The crackdown is still ongoing, with frequent arrests and prison sentences. Hong Kong authorities have repeatedly claimed that the city's freedoms remain intact, and that the security law has restored order and stability.

A triumphant Xi: On Sunday, Xi claimed Beijing had turned the city "from chaos to governance," and praised the "patriots administering Hong Kong."

The 2019 protests had been a "turbulent" and "volatile" time, he said, adding that Beijing had "effectively exercised comprehensive jurisdiction" over Hong Kong. "Thanks to these moves, order has been restored in Hong Kong, marking a major turn for the better in the region," he said.

City leader's response: John Lee, Hong Kong's leader and the former security chief who oversaw much of the crackdown, posted a photo of himself standing close to a television broadcasting the Party Congress on Sunday.

Lee, who was appointed to the role in May this year, wrote in his caption that Hong Kong has faced numerous challenges in the past five years, from the "social turmoil of 2019" to the Covid-19 pandemic. Beijing's measures have "pushed Hong Kong into a new stage of progress," and the city now is ready to "open a new chapter," he wrote.

Xi Jinping crushed Hong Kong's opposition. Now he claims handover to China marked 'beginning of true democracy' | CNN

China is navigating "grim and complex international situation," says xi without naming any countries.

From CNN’s Yong Xiong in New York

During his speech at the start of the Party Congress, Xi Jinping said China was working to navigate a “grim and complex international situation” and “huge risks and challenges that came one after another” – possibly referencing the global pandemic and Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, though he did not identify any countries by name.

China's stance on the war: China has offered rhetorical support to Russia throughout its invasion of Ukraine, but Xi did not overtly mention the war in his address on Sunday. 

“China firmly pursues an independent and peaceful foreign policy, always decides its own position and policy according to the merits of the matter itself,” Xi said, adding that China “upholds the basic norms of international relations, upholds international fairness and justice.”

On the West: Xi did not name the US or other Western countries — but repeated phrases that Beijing has previously used often to hit out at Washington.

China “firmly opposes all forms of hegemonism and power politics, opposes the Cold War mentality, and opposes interfere in the internal affairs of other countries and oppose double standards," Xi said.

On Taiwan: Xi also spoke about Taiwan, a self-governing island that the Communist Party claims as its territory — despite never having controlled it.

Because of this claim, Beijing does not consider the future of Taiwan as a foreign policy matter. "Solving the Taiwan issue is the Chinese people's own business, and it is up to the Chinese people to decide," Xi said on Sunday.

Taiwan says it will never compromise on sovereignty in response to Xi’s speech 

From CNN’s Eric Cheung in Taipei, Taiwan 

Taiwan will never compromise on values of sovereignty, democracy and freedom, the island’s presidential office said on Sunday in response to comments made by Chinese leader Xi Jinping. 

“The national security team is closely monitoring the situation and will continue to pay close attention to subsequent developments,” presidential office spokesman Chang Tun-han said.  “Taiwan’s mainstream opinion has clearly expressed that we firmly reject ‘One Country, Two Systems’,” he said referencing the policy under which Hong Kong is governed. “It is the consensus of the Taiwanese public that territorial sovereignty, democracy and freedom cannot be compromised, and military confrontation must not be the option for both sides of the Taiwan Strait.”  

Chang also referenced a speech given by Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen on National Day last week that Taipei is willing to work with Beijing to find “mutually acceptable ways” to maintain peace and stability on the Taiwan Strait. 

What Xi said on Taiwan: Xi delivered a stern warning on Sunday regarding Taiwan, saying it would "never promise to renounce the use of force and we reserve the option of taking all measures necessary."

"Complete reunification of our country must be realized,” he said.

China's ruling Communist Party claims Taiwan as its territory, despite never having controlled the self-governing democratic island of 23 million people.

In photos: China's top officials gathered to hear Xi Jinping's two-hour speech

China's Communist Party Congress kicked off Sunday, with leader Xi Jinping delivering an almost two-hour speech at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, where nearly 2,300 delegates from around the country had gathered.

Nearly all of them wore face masks — except the 25-member Politburo, including Xi, and a number of party elders sitting in the front row on stage.

Masks are still ubiquitous across China, in stark contrast to much of the Western world, which has reopened and relaxed measures in public spaces.

Security had ramped up ahead of the event, with personnel stationed across Beijing — including on many bridges, after a rare and swiftly silenced protest on Thursday saw banners opposing Xi and his Covid restrictions hung on an overpass in the capital.

Former party official accused of sexual assault against tennis star Peng Shuai gets prominent seat for Xi speech 

A former Communist Party official accused of sexually assaulting tennis star Peng Shuai sat in a prominent position behind Xi Jinping for the Chinese leader’s speech in Beijing on Sunday — the first time he's been spotted at a live event since the allegation.

Zhang Gaoli sat with senior party officials on the stage of the Great Hall Of The People, directly visible by TV cameras for parts of Xi’s nearly two-hour speech.

Peng, a former Wimbledon and French Open doubles champion, last year accused retired Vice Premier Zhang of pressuring her into having sex, according to screenshots of a since-deleted post from Peng’s verified account on Weibo, China’s Twitter-like social media platform.

The post was scrubbed from Chinese social media and Peng was not heard from for weeks after, raising fears for her safety.

Peng later retracted the accusation against Zhang, leading critics of the Chinese Communist Party to suggest she had again been silenced.  

Read more about it here:

Peng Shuai denies making sexual assault allegation against retired Communist Party leader, but WTA concerns persist | CNN

This party congress is different from others in the past. here's why.

For more than two decades, a new general secretary has been appointed at every other Communist Party Congress.

But since the last Congress in 2017, Xi Jinping has signaled plans to keep a firm grip on all aspects of what’s considered a trifecta of power in China: control over the party, the state and the military.

At the last Congress in 2017, he  broke with tradition  and did not elevate a potential successor to the Standing Committee.

Then, months later, China’s rubber-stamp legislature  eliminated the term limits  for President of China. This was widely seen as enabling Xi to continue to a third term as head of state, while also retaining his control of the party – where the true power lies.

While there are no formal term limits for general secretary, staying in the top party role would also require Xi to break with another unwritten rule: the party’s informal age limit.

Abandoning term limits: The norm is that senior officials who are 68 or older at the time of the Congress will retire. At 69, Xi would flout this recent convention by staying in power.

What’s less clear is whether he will seek to give other Politburo allies exemptions, disrupting one of the few neutral methods the party has to ensure turnover, or whether, in contrast, he could lower the retirement age for others to oust some existing members.

Changing the constitution: Xi is also expected to strengthen his legacy, likely through amendments to the party constitution — a regular feature of each Congress.

Last month, the Politburo discussed these changes during a scheduled meeting, according to a government statement that did not include specifics.

In 2017, Xi became the  first leader since Mao Zedong  — Communist China’s founder — to have his philosophy added to the constitution while still in power. Oservers have suggested Xi’s  key principles  could be further enshrined this time around.

These details will be signs of how much power Xi holds within the upper echelons of the party – and how strong his backing is as he steps into his expected, norm-breaking third term leading one of the world’s most powerful countries.

Read the full explainer here.

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Biden and China's Xi make first contact since November with a 'check-in' call

John Ruwitch

President Joe Biden greets China's leader Xi Jinping at the Filoli Estate in Woodside, Calif., Nov, 15, 2023, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperative conference. Doug Mills/The New York Times via AP, Pool hide caption

President Joe Biden greets China's leader Xi Jinping at the Filoli Estate in Woodside, Calif., Nov, 15, 2023, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperative conference.

BEIJING and WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping held what a senior Biden administration official dubbed a "check-in" call on Tuesday, marking the first conversation between the leaders since their face-to-face meeting in California in November.

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The call touched on everything from Taiwan to the situation on the Korean Peninsula, artificial intelligence and Russia's war in Ukraine.

According to the Chinese readout, Xi told Biden strategic awareness "must always be the first 'button' to be fastened" in bilateral ties. The Chinese leader also elaborated his position on issues concerning Hong Kong, human rights and the South China Sea, the readout says.

Taiwan's election was a vote for continuity, but adds uncertainty in ties with China

The Chinese leader warned again that the "Taiwan issue" is an "insurmountable red line" in bilateral ties. Xi also urged Biden to "translate" his commitment of not supporting "Taiwan independence" into concrete actions, according to the readout.

Biden, in the call, emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the rule of law and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, according to a White House readout.

The two leaders also discussed the global geopolitical situation. Biden, according to the White House, raised concerns over China's support for Russia's defense industrial base and its impact on European and transatlantic security. He also emphasized Washington's "enduring commitment" to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Tuesday's call was the first time Biden and Xi have talked since they met in northern California in November. There, they agreed on a range of steps to try to prevent increasingly fraught U.S.-China ties from slipping into conflict, including more frequent contact at the leader level, between militaries and beyond.

Ahead of the call, a senior administration official told reporters the conversation would not represent a change in U.S. policy toward China, and competition remains a key feature.

"Intense competition requires intense diplomacy to manage tensions, address misperceptions and prevent unintended conflict. And this call is one way to do that," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not permitted to speak on the record.

Biden raised perennial U.S. concerns about China's "unfair trade policies and non-market economic practices," according to the White House readout — an issue that will be front and center when Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen visits China later this week.

The president also reiterated to his Chinese counterpart that Washington will continue to "take necessary actions to prevent advanced U.S. technologies from being used to undermine our national security, without unduly limiting trade and investment," the White House readout said.

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Xi Jinping's full speech at the U.N.'s 76th General Assembly

Chinese leader lays out 4 paths to 'answer the questions of our times'

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday made a statement at the general debate of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly via video.

Below is an official English-language translation of the full speech provided by the Chinese government via Xinhua News Agency:

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Full text of Xi Jinping's keynote speech at 3rd Belt and Road Forum for Int'l Cooperation

BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday delivered a keynote speech at the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

The following is the full text of the speech:

Building an Open, Inclusive and Interconnected World For Common Development

Keynote Speech by H.E. Xi Jinping

President of the People's Republic of China

At the Opening Ceremony of the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation

October 18, 2023

Your Excellencies Heads of State and Government,

Heads of International Organizations,

Representatives of Various Countries,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, we are meeting here for the opening ceremony of the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF). On behalf of the Chinese government and Chinese people and in my own name, I wish to extend a very warm welcome to you all!

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) I proposed. The BRI, drawing inspiration from the ancient Silk Road and focusing on enhancing connectivity, aims to enhance policy, infrastructure, trade, financial and people-to-people connectivity, inject new impetus into the global economy, create new opportunities for global development, and build a new platform for international economic cooperation.

Over these 10 years, we have stayed committed to this founding mission. Thanks to our joint efforts, Belt and Road international cooperation has gotten off the ground, grown rapidly and produced fruitful outcomes.

Belt and Road cooperation has extended from the Eurasian continent to Africa and Latin America. More than 150 countries and over 30 international organizations have signed Belt and Road cooperation documents. We have held two sessions of the BRF before, and have established over 20 specialized multilateral cooperation platforms under the BRI.

Belt and Road cooperation has progressed from "sketching the outline" to "filling in the details," and blueprints have been turned into real projects. A large number of signature projects and "small yet smart" people-centered programs have been launched.

Belt and Road cooperation has expanded from physical connectivity to institutional connectivity. Important guiding principles for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation have been laid down, which include the principle of "planning together, building together, and benefiting together," the philosophy of open, green and clean cooperation, and the goal of pursuing high-standard, people-centered and sustainable cooperation.

Over these 10 years, we have endeavored to build a global network of connectivity consisting of economic corridors, international transportation routes and information highway as well as railways, roads, airports, ports, pipelines and power grids. Covering the land, the ocean, the sky and the Internet, this network has boosted the flow of goods, capital, technologies and human resources among countries involved and injected fresh vitality into the millennia-old Silk Road in the new era.

Trains speeding along rail tracks, automobiles running on roads, flights connecting different countries, cargo ships breaking waves, and e-commerce bringing so much convenience to people -- they have all become symbols of international trade in the new era, just like camel caravans and the sailing ships were for the past age.

Hydro, wind and solar energy based power plants, oil and gas pipelines, and the increasingly smart and interconnected power transmission networks are removing the development bottleneck caused by energy shortage and fulfilling the dream of developing countries to achieve green and low-carbon development. These energy projects have become the oasis and lighthouse for sustainable development in the new era.

Brand new airports and harbors, smooth roads, and newly built industrial parks for business cooperation have created new economic corridors and new growth drivers, and have become the trading routes and staging posts of the new era.

Rich and colorful cultural years, art festivals, expos and exhibitions, Luban Workshops, people-to-people exchange programs like the Silk Road Community Building Initiative and the Brightness Action program, and deepening exchanges between non-governmental organizations, think tanks, media organizations, and the youth -- all these flourishing activities have composed a symphony of friendship in the new era.

When COVID-19 struck, the Belt and Road became a life-saving road. China provided more than 10 billion masks and 2.3 billion doses of vaccines to other countries and jointly produced vaccines with over 20 countries, making a special contribution to BRI partners' efforts in fighting COVID-19. And China also received valuable support from more than 70 countries when it was hit hard by the pandemic.

Belt and Road cooperation is based on the principle of "planning together, building together, and benefiting together." It transcends differences between civilizations, cultures, social systems, and stages of development. It has opened up a new path for exchanges among countries, and established a new framework for international cooperation. Indeed, the BRI represents humanity's joint pursuit of development for all.

Our achievements in the past decade are truly remarkable, and there is so much we can draw from them.

We have learned that humankind is a community with a shared future. China can only do well when the world is doing well. When China does well, the world will get even better. Through Belt and Road cooperation, China is opening its door even wider to the world, with its inland regions turning from "fullbacks" into "forwards," and coastal regions scaling new heights in their opening-up. China's market has become even more closely integrated with the global market. China has become a main trading partner of more than 140 countries and territories and a primary source of investment for more countries. Both Chinese investment overseas and foreign investment in China have boosted friendship, cooperation, confidence and hope.

We have learned that win-win cooperation is the sure way to success in launching major initiatives that benefit all. When countries embrace cooperation and act in concert, a deep chasm can be turned into a thoroughfare, land-locked countries can become land-linked, and a place of underdevelopment can be transformed into a land of prosperity. Countries taking the lead in economic development should give a hand to their partners who are yet to catch up. We should all treat each other as friends and partners, respect and support each other, and help each other succeed. As the saying goes, when you give roses to others, their fragrance lingers on your hand. In other words, helping others is also helping oneself. Viewing others' development as a threat or taking economic interdependence as a risk will not make one's own life better or speed up one's development.

We have learned that the Silk Road spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit is the most important source of strength for Belt and Road cooperation. I once said that the pioneers of the ancient silk routes won their place in history not as conquerors with warships, guns, horses or swords. Rather, they are remembered as friendly emissaries leading camel caravans and sailing ships loaded with goods. Belt and Road cooperation is based on the belief that flame runs high when everyone adds wood to the fire and that mutual support can get us far. Such cooperation seeks to deliver a good life not only to people of just one country, but to people in other countries as well. It promotes connectivity, mutual benefit, common development, cooperation and win-win outcomes. Ideological confrontation, geopolitical rivalry and bloc politics are not a choice for us. What we stand against are unilateral sanctions, economic coercion and decoupling and supply chain disruption.

What has been achieved in the past 10 years demonstrates that Belt and Road cooperation is on the right side of history. It represents the advancing of our times, and it is the right path forward. We need to remain clear-eyed and undisturbed in a volatile world, and we need to be keenly aware of our responsibility for history, for the people and for the world. We should jointly address various global risks and challenges, and deliver a bright future of peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit for future generations.

Changes of the world, of our times, and of historical significance are unfolding like never before. China is endeavoring to build itself into a stronger country and rejuvenate the Chinese nation on all fronts by pursuing Chinese modernization. The modernization we are pursuing is not for China alone, but for all developing countries through our joint efforts. Global modernization should be pursued to enhance peaceful development and mutually beneficial cooperation and bring prosperity to all. On our way forward, we will encounter both headwinds and tailwinds. We need to stay focused on our goal, take results-oriented actions, persevere, and keep moving forward until our goal is met. China will work with all parties involved to deepen Belt and Road partnerships of cooperation, usher this cooperation into a new stage of high-quality development, and make relentless efforts to achieve modernization for all countries.

Now, I wish to announce eight major steps China will take to support our joint pursuit of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

First, building a multidimensional Belt and Road connectivity network. China will speed up high-quality development of the China-Europe Railway Express, participate in the trans-Caspian international transportation corridor, host the China-Europe Railway Express Cooperation Forum, and make joint efforts to build a new logistics corridor across the Eurasian continent linked by direct railway and road transportation. We will vigorously integrate ports, shipping and trading services under the "Silk Road Maritime," and accelerate the building of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and the Air Silk Road.

Second, supporting an open world economy. China will establish pilot zones for Silk Road e-commerce cooperation, enter into free trade agreements and investment protection treaties with more countries. We will remove all restrictions on foreign investment access in the manufacturing sector. In light of international high-standard economic and trade rules, we will further advance high-standard opening up in cross-border service trade and investment, expand market access for digital and other products, and deepen reform in areas including the state-owned enterprises, digital economy, intellectual property and government procurement. China will hold the Global Digital Trade Expo annually. In the next five years (2024-2028), China's total trade in goods and services is expected to exceed USD 32 trillion and USD 5 trillion respectively.

Third, carrying out practical cooperation. China will promote both signature projects and "small yet smart" livelihood programs. The China Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of China will each set up a RMB 350 billion financing window. An additional RMB 80 billion will be injected into the Silk Road Fund. Together, they will support BRI projects on the basis of market and business operation. Cooperation agreements worth USD 97.2 billion have been concluded at the CEO Conference held during this Forum. China will carry out 1,000 small-scale livelihood assistance projects, and enhance vocational education cooperation through Luban Workshops and other initiatives. We will also step up joint efforts to ensure the safety of BRI projects and personnel.

Fourth, promoting green development. China will continue to deepen cooperation in areas such as green infrastructure, green energy and green transportation, and step up support for the BRI International Green Development Coalition. China will continue to hold the BRI Green Innovation Conference, and establish dialogue and exchange mechanisms for the solar industry and a network of experts on green and low-carbon development. China will implement the Green Investment Principles for the Belt and Road, and provide 100,000 training opportunities for partner countries by 2030.

Fifth, advancing scientific and technological innovation. China will continue to implement the Belt and Road Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation Action Plan, hold the first Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange, increase the number of joint laboratories built with other parties to 100 in the next five years, and support young scientists from other countries to work on short-term programs in China. At this Forum, China will put forward the Global Initiative for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance. We stand ready to increase exchanges and dialogue with other countries and jointly promote the sound, orderly and secure AI development in the world.

Sixth, supporting people-to-people exchanges. China will host the Liangzhu Forum to enhance dialogue on civilizations with BRI partner countries. In addition to the Silk Road International League of Theaters, the Silk Road International Arts Festival, the International Alliance of Museums of the Silk Road, the Silk Road International Alliance of Art Museums, and the Silk Road International Library Alliance that have been set up, China has also launched the International Tourism Alliance of Silk Road Cities. And we will continue with the Chinese government scholarship Silk Road Program.

Seventh, promoting integrity-based Belt and Road cooperation. Together with its cooperation partners, China will release the Achievements and Prospects of Belt and Road Integrity Building and the High-Level Principles on Belt and Road Integrity Building, and establish the Integrity and Compliance Evaluation System for Companies Involved in Belt and Road Cooperation. We will also work with international organizations to carry out research and training on promoting integrity in Belt and Road cooperation.

Eighth, strengthening institutional building for international Belt and Road cooperation. China will work with its BRI partner countries to strengthen the building of multilateral cooperation platforms covering energy, taxation, finance, green development, disaster reduction, anti-corruption, think tank, media, culture and other fields. China will continue to host the BRF and establish a secretariat for the Forum.

The past decade has been a journey of dedicated cooperation and fruitful outcomes. Belt and Road cooperation was proposed by China, but its benefits and opportunities are for the world to share. Let us meet the expectations of the people, assume responsibilities entrusted on us by history, closely follow the trend of the times, and press ahead with energy and enterprise. Let us deepen Belt and Road international cooperation, and bring Belt and Road cooperation to a new stage of higher-quality and higher-level development. Let us advance modernization of all countries, build an open, inclusive and interconnected world for common development, and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind.

I wish the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation a full success!

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