China plays constructive role in Belt and Road Initiative

China's foreign aid has played a constructive role in promoting the Belt and Road Cooperation by helping improve the livelihood of people in many countries, said officials, diplomats and representatives from international organizations, in a book launching ceremony in Beijing.

In the ceremony held on Thursday, the China International Development Cooperation Agency released a book of short stories, written in both Chinese and English, about China's foreign aid and international development cooperation projects in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Oceania.

Called Rose Stories along the Belt and Road: For Global Development and Shared Future, the book covers China's international assistance in COVID-19 response, health, poverty relief, technology, agriculture, education and sport. Deng Boqing, vice-chairman of the agency, said the book records the close cooperation between China and other countries under the Belt and Road Initiative and how the initiative has changed peoples' lives.

Since being put forward in 2013, the initiative has become a platform for countries along the Belt and Road to work together for shared development, Deng said, adding that China's international development cooperation has injected energy into the Belt and Road construction. China started providing foreign aid 72 years ago.

Over the past seven decades, China has taken concrete measures and tried its best to help the economic and social development of other developing countries, contributing to the implementation of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Deng said.

Simon Pierre Adovelande, the ambassador of Benin to China, said the launching of the book serves "a call for international solidarity in an increasingly complex world".

Many countries, including Benin, have enjoyed various assistance from China, according to Adovelande. "Millions of people, especially women and children have benefited from Chinese assistance by building schools, hospitals, roads, highways and social economic infrastructure to bring hope and restore dignity," the ambassador said.

Shahbaz Khan, director and representative of the Beijing office of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, said the stories recorded in the books show "catalytic support" for peace and sustainable development, "which we need more than ever before", adding that such stories should be shared more widely, both in China and in other parts of the world.