Jiangsu eyes development as intersection of BRI

Jiangsu launched a document on promoting the high-quality construction of the province as the intersection of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) at the end of 2018, making sure that Jiangsu could continue to lead BRI construction throughout the country.

After years of efforts, Jiangsu has achieved great momentum in areas such as trade, culture and industry.

By the end of 2018, Jiangsu companies had invested in 1,701 projects in countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), accounting for 25 percent of the number of such projects in the province. Contracted investments made by Jiangsu reached $16.26 billion, accounted for 23 percent of the province’s total.

Jiangsu companies conducted foreign project contracts in 50 countries and regions along the Belt and Road in 2018, and the province’s export and import trade covered all BRI regions.

The total trade volume among Jiangsu and BRI countries in 2018 accounted for 22.2 percent of the province’s total.

Achievements were also made in landmark projects constructed by Jiangsu.

The China-UAE Industrial Capacity Cooperation Demonstration Zone, whose construction was funded and organized by Jiangsu, was approved to become China’s first demonstration zone for production capacity cooperation.

New joint land and sea transport channels between Asia and Europe were further promoted. In 2018, the land and sea joint transport volume at Jiangsu’s Lianyungang Port reached 339,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit), up 2.9 percent year-on-year. A total of 1,220 China-Europe trains ran in 2018.

The cooperation platform between Jiangsu and BRI countries also developed in 2018, with the province signing 105 sister city contracts with cities, provinces or states in 35 BRI countries and regions.

Two service platforms were also set up, one for providing personal accident insurance for all staff members in Jiangsu sent abroad and the other for Jiangsu companies to seek foreign talents.

In addition, the province plans to make full use of its advantages in cultural brands to enhance communication with countries involved in the BRI.

The document pointed out that by the end of 2020, Jiangsu’s geographic advantage as the intersection of the BRI will be basically established and a high-level opening-up pattern will have been formed.