Building bridges: EAEF facilitates Xi'an's integration into BRI

The Euro-Asia Economic Forum (EAEF), held biennially since its establishment in 2005, has become an important platform for the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), witnessing the deep integration of Xi'an into the initiative's grand plan.

Through 10 successful sessions, the EAEF has served as a platform for public diplomacy, policy coordination, investment promotion, and project matching.

It has also become an important carrier for the development of Xi'an into a national central city.

The first China-Europe Chang'an freight train was launched in November 2013, soon after the 2013 EAEF.

Over the past 10 years, the train has gone from 46 to over 4,600 trips annually.

"At this year's Economic and Trade Cooperation Expo of the EAEF, many products from different countries were transported to Xi'an via the freight train. The German exhibits, including machinery, and skincare products, were displayed in China for the first time," said Gao Lusha, the expo's project director.

As an important part of the 2023 EAEF, the eighth Roundtable Conference of Cities along the Silk Road Economic Belt brought together representatives from over 100 guests to conduct in-depth discussions on strengthening international tourism city interaction and jointly developing new tourism patterns.

"I am honored to participate in this roundtable conference. Both Xi'an and Andong have a long history and culture, and it is beneficial to both sister cities to join forces," said Kwon Ki-chang, mayor of Andong, a city in South Korea.

In addition, through the EAEF, an increasing number of people from Xi'an have started businesses in countries involved in the BRI, while more and more foreigners have come to Xi'an to live, study, travel, and do businesses.

Jeffrey, a Belgian participating in this year's Economic and Trade Cooperation Expo of the EAEF, has been living in Xi'an for many years. He believes that the BRI provides the world with a window into China.

Xi'an sees the EAEF as a way to create a new chapter in the city's high-quality development and contribute to China's modernization.