Building the Belt and Road Sharing Opportunities of Prosperity Wu Yan Economic and Commercial councellor of Chinese Embassy

1.What is the Belt and Road Initiative 2.Why should we build it 3.How do we implement it 4.Estonia and the initiative

3 The Ancient Silk Road is a series of trade and cultural transmission routes, connecting the West and East by linking traders, pilgrims, soldiers, and urban dwellers from China and India to the Mediterranean Sea. What is the Belt and Road?

4 The Ancient Maritime Silk Road connected China’s coastal area and Europe, passing through South China Sea and the Indian Ocean. It is the oldest maritime trade route in the world.

The Silk Road Spirit:  Peace and cooperation  Openness and inclusiveness  Mutual learning  Mutual benefit

6 The Silk Road Economic Belt and 21 st -centuray Maritime Silk Road initiatives were put forward by the Chinese President Xi Jinping when he visited Kazakhstan and Indonesia in 2013.

7 The Belt and Road will be built in FIVE areas: Policy communication Road connectivity Unimpeded trade Money circulation Understanding between peoples

8 Why should we build the belt and road?

One Belt and One Road More free flow of economic factors More coordination More integrated markets More efficient allocation of resources First, the Initiative answers the call of our time

10 One Belt and One Road Boost economy Economic integration Deepen reform All-round Opening up Second, the Initiative will help China to deepen reform and build a new pattern of all-round opening-up

11 Third, the Initiative is in the interests of Eurasia countries One Belt and One Road tap market potential in this region create demands and job opportunit ies enhance people-to- people exchanges promote investment and consumption

All-dimensional and composite connectivity networks, significantly reducing logistic costs. Diversified, balanced and sustainable development. Coordinated development plans among relevant parties. Eurasian hinterland will become the heart in the world market, with significant rise of commodity transportation, leading to greater trans-regional integration. Better infrastructure and connectivity

13 Encouraging tolerance among difference cultures, essential for building trust and dispelling hatred and extremism. promoting cultural exchanges and greater security. Building a community of common interests and destiny More understanding between different cultures

14 How do we implement the initiative?

15 To build the Belt and Road, all involved parties need to contribute their wisdom and join hands to implement specific projects.

16  Open and inclusive  Equality and mutual respect  Win-win cooperation  Market operation  Wide consultation  Joint contribution  Shared benefits Basic principles:

17 Chronology of the “Belt and Road" initiative Mar 2014 –Building the "Belt and Road" in the Chinese government work report. May The first phase of a logistics terminal jointly built by China and Kazakhstan went into operation. It is seen as a platform for goods from central Asian countries to go overseas and a boost to the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt. Oct Asian countries willing to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) as founding members signed the MOU on Establishing AIIB.

18 Chronology of the “Belt and Road" initiative Nov – Chinese President announced that China will contribute USD 40 billion to set up the Silk Road Fund, providing investment and financing support to projects related to the "Belt and Road". Feb – Priorities were sketched out for the initiatives, highlighting transport infrastructure building, investment and trade facilitation, financial cooperation and cultural exchanges. Jan Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Founded.

19 Estonia and the Belt and road initiative

20 Estonia

21 Rail Baltic

22 The Rail Baltic, when completed, will link Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania with the main artery of the Silk Road Economic Belt, which will bring more investment, business opportunities and jobs to the region. As the Silk Road Economic Belt promotes inter-connectivity and development, it will help Baltic countries further integrate into EU market and become a logistic hub in northeast Europe.

23 Belgrade, December 2014

24 Thank you!