Gu Shengzu, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), delivered a keynote speech at the 2021 Belt and Road Trade and Investment Forum in Beijing on Dec 2.

Gu said the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has evolved from an idea to action and from vision to reality to reach different regions and cultures over a time span of eight years and won increasing recognition and participation of the global community as a global public good and a platform for international cooperation.

As China enters a new stage of development, he said there will be a larger market and more opportunities ahead for partners of the initiative. He called on all parties to commit new efforts in the initiative's implementation to be government-led, enterprise-oriented and market-based.

Co-hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and the China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC), the forum, held both online and offline, attracted ambassadors to China and more than 600 political and business leaders from 77 countries, regions and international organizations.