Beijing, April 25th--The thematic forum on people-to-people connectivity of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation was held in National Convention Centre. Under the theme "Working Together for Better Lives: People-to-People Connectivity and Cooperation", the thematic forum summarized the achievements of the Belt and Road construction in the field of people-to-people connectivity, and planned the key development direction in the future.

Song Tao delivers a speech

Song Tao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, said the Belt and Road Initiative is an important platform to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to promote the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, and efforts should be made to achieve people-to-people connectivity in particular.

Song said that people-to-people connectivity is the deepest, longest and most fundamental connectivity. We hope that all parties will take a more positive attitude to bridge the gap between our peoples, pave the way for mutual understanding, cement the foundation for mutual trust between our peoples, and promote the Belt and Road Initiative for more successful and fruitful results for the benefit of more people and the whole world.

Filipe Jacinto Nyusi delivers a speech

Aleksandar Vucic delivers a speech

Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, President of the  Mozambique Liberation Front and President of Mozambique; Aleksandar Vucic, President of the Serbian Progressive Party and President of Serbia; State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar and other foreign leaders delivered speeches respectively. Nyusi spoke highly of the Belt and Road Initiative put forward by President Xi Jinping and looked forward to more fruitful cooperation between China and Africa under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative for the benefit of the Chinese and African people. Vucic made positive comments on the new progress of Serbia-China cooperation in the Belt and Road area and said that Serbia will continue to closely cooperate with China. Aung San Suu Kyi said that the cooperation between Myanmar and China under the Belt and Road Initiative is an important part of  Myanmar-China cooperation and she looked forward to taking the bilateral friendship to a new level.

Aung San Suu Kyi delivers a speech

At the forum, ordinary people from countries along the Belt and Road shared their touching stories on people-to-people connectivity. The representative of Laos asked Song to present a precious picture album of President Xi from all the teachers and students of Nongping Primary School. With the push of the button, the Silk Road Community Building Initiative was launched at the thematic forum, which aims to promote social organizations of countries along the Belt and Road to jointly carry out cooperation in people's livelihood.

Launching ceremony of the Silk Road Community Building Initiative

The thematic forum on people-to-people connectivity, organized by the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, was co-organized 17 units including the General Office of the Central Commission for Guiding Cultural and Ethical Progress, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the National Health and Family Planning Commission, the National Radio and Television Administration, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, the All-China Youth Federation, the All-China Women's Federation, the China Association for Science and Technology, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the China Disabled Persons' Federation, the Red Cross Society Of China, and the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development. More than 130 foreign guests from 61 countries attended the thematic forum.

Enditem