BEIJING, May 14 (Xinhua) – Mr. Lu Jianzhong, Chairman of Silk Road Chamber of International Commerce, recently accepted the interview of Xinhua News Agency. He indicated that the participation of non-government forces should be mobilized to foster the process of the Belt and Road.

Lu stated that the Belt and Road Initiative needs cooperation, both between governments, and between communities and peoples. The private sector is where the Silk Road unfolds. And the SRCIC is founded to include the private sector in constructing the Belt and Road.

To share the investment opportunities brought by the Belt and Road, in December 2015, Tang West Market Group, in cooperation with 36 national chambers of commerce along the Silk Road, initiated the first international chamber of commerce named after Silk Road in the work in Hong Kong, that is, the Silk Road Chamber of International Commerce.

“Operational for over a year, the SRCIC now has 71 members, which are national chambers of commerce around the world. SRCIC serves not only as a bridge to connect the national chambers of commerce and governments, but also a platform for communications and trade and investment among our members.” Said Lu.

“For over a year, the SRCIC has devoted itself to the construction of the Belt and Road and to its mission for regional interaction and cooperation. We've built platforms for both cultural exchanges and economic cooperation. We introduce the ideas and philosophies of cooperative development featured in the Belt and Road. And we have achieved notable progress.” Said Lu.

He said that the Silk Road Chamber of International Commerce has established 7 professional committees, namely the Finance, Commerce and Trade, Culture, Energy, Transportation, Information and Industrial Parks. In addition, 7 organizations for practical cooperation, including www.eSilkRoad.com, Silk Road International Development Fund, Silk Road Commerce and Trade Expo Park, Silk Road Think Tank Association, Silk Road International Commodity Exchanges, Silk Road International Associations of Museums and Silk Road International Artwork Trading Center, have been established and the Framework Agreement on Jointly Establishing a Mechanism and Platform for International Industry and Commerce Cooperation was signed by more than 60 national chambers of commerce and international organizations.

Lu expressed confidence that in the coming years, there will be more national chambers of commerce to join the SRCIC, which will definitely be the start of the joint construction of the Belt and Road by international communities.

Lu said that the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing is of significant importance to the facilitation of international and regional cooperation.

“The keys to better practical cooperation lie in infrastructure connectivity, trade and investment, financial facilities, and cultural exchanges.” Lu said. And governments should provide facilitating policies that include chambers and associations in international trade and investment because they are an integral part to the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/2017-05/14/c_1120970227.htm