China has signed cooperation documents with more than 150 countries and over 30 international organizations to advance the Belt and Road Initiative, the National Development and Reform Commission announced on November 11.
The partnerships now reach three-quarters of the nations across the globe alongside major international organizations. The announcement came during the fifth press conference of the “Pursuing the 15th Five-Year Plan” series held in Beijing.
Expanding Physical Corridors Across Land, Sea, and Air
Infrastructure connectivity forms the backbone of the Belt and Road Initiative. The China-Europe Railway Express has emerged as a flagship land transport corridor connecting Asia and Europe.
The rail network has completed more than 140,000 trips carrying goods valued at over $560 billion, according to the National Development and Reform Commission. The service currently reaches 237 cities across 26 European countries.
During the first ten months of the year, the rail line operated 18,661 trips and transported 186.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units, marking increases of 14.6% and 11.2% respectively compared to the previous year, according to the National Development and Reform Commission. Heavy container loads remained at 100% for 50 months.
Maritime networks have expanded in parallel with land routes. International container shipping lines now connect Chinese ports with over 100 countries and regions worldwide, while the “Silk Road Maritime” network continues to develop coordination among ports and shipping operators.
The aerial Silk Road has similarly expanded to link 159 cities across 66 partner countries. Xiao Hongwei, a researcher at the National Information Center, said that the dense transport network has lowered trade barriers and reduced logistics expenses for participating nations.
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Shifting Toward Deep Industrial Collaboration and Green Growth
Trade volumes between China and participating countries have remained stable at more than 50% of China’s total foreign trade value since 2024. Import growth from partner nations reached 17.9% in the first three quarters of the year, outpacing export growth by 1.3 percentage points.
Strengthening Human Exchange and Educational Cooperation
Educational and cultural ties continue to form a foundational pillar for partner nations.
Zhao said that future efforts will focus on enhancing the “Study in China” brand and building high-level talent cultivation platforms. China has established 36 Luban Workshops, 40 Chinese Language Workshops, and nine overseas engineering colleges in partner countries to provide technical and vocational training.
“We will continue to play the guiding, foundational, and strategic role of education to advance Belt and Road educational cooperation at a high level,” Zhao said.
The Ministry of Commerce reported that enterprises from partner countries established more than 10,000 new businesses in China during the first half of the year, representing a 21.6% increase from the previous year.
