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Belt and Road Initiative ambitious vision, helps strengthen connectivity in Asia: political leaders

Xinhua, November 30, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China is an ambitious strategy and vision which will complement other regional efforts in Asia and strengthen connectivity among countries, Lao Deputy Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and some other Asian political leaders said Wednesday.

A public forum on "The Belt and Road Initiative: Its Impact on Peace and Prosperity" was held during the fourth annual meeting of Asian Peace and Reconciliation Council (APRC) members on Wednesday in the Lao capital of Vientiane.

Lao Deputy Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone said the Belt and Road Initiative is an ambitious economic strategy and vision, which calls for a concerted effort of countries along the route to enhance policy coordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people exchanges.

If realized, the mega project would complement other regional efforts, including Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in strengthening greater connectivity, creating a favorable environment conducive to investment, fostering the flow of goods and services, lowering transport and production costs, empowering countries especially those located along the route in global supply chains, and help poverty alleviation, he added.

For Laos, the Belt and Road Initiative will become instrumental in comprehensive economic planning and the development of major infrastructure, with the Laos-China railway project being an example.

Lao government attaches great importance to enhancing connectivity within the country and with its neighbors, as it will help support sustained economic growth, poverty alleviation, trade and investment facilitation, greater access to core infrastructure and services, and transform Laos from a land-locked into a land-linked country, he said.

The official highlighted construction of the Laos-China railway, the conducting of feasibility studies on other railways stretching from the Lao-Thai border to Lao-Vietnamese border across central Savannakhet province, and from Vientiane to Vietnam via Laos' central Khammuane province, as well as the enhancing of inland waterways and the air transport network.

Chairman of APRC Surakiart Sathirathai noted the Belt and Road Initiative would help raise people's living standards by enabling them to integrate with financial and digital sectors, while opening up tourism employment opportunities.

APRC is a non-governmental organization launched in Bangkok in 2012 by a gathering of former national leaders and ministers in Asia with the goal of helping resolve conflicts on the Asian continent. Endit