A Maersk ship makes berth in Dapukou terminal at Jintang port area of Ningbo Zhoushan port which runs 18 shipping routes covering the Belt and Road Initiative. Photo: cnsphoto

The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has become a well-received international public good and a global cooperation platform, and China is open to other cooperative initiatives that enhance interconnectivity and common development, said Han Wenxiu, executive deputy director of the Office of the Central Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs, on Friday. 

Responding to a question about BRI projects threatened by debt and environmental risks, Han cited statistics to prove the initiative's popularity across the world. 

By 2020, trade between China and countries along the BRI surpassed $9.2 trillion and China has invested nearly $140 billion in those countries. 

The initiative made tremendous contributions amid the coronavirus pandemic as China has provided more than 1.7 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine to over 110 countries and international organizations, according to Han. Most of the countries have joined the BRI. 

China reaffirms its support in BRI with high-quality growth and will make it green, sustainable, inclusive and innovative, the official said. 

"Building BRI is not China's solo, but a chorus of co-building countries. The world has a huge gap in infrastructure investment, especially in developing countries. We welcome every country to build BRI and remain open to other cooperative initiatives that enhance interconnectivity and help achieve common development," Han said, in response to a question about the US and Europe's infrastructure plans. 

Global Times