STORY: Vlog: Why is BRI so popular?
DATELINE: Oct. 18, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:55
LOCATION: Beijing
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. STANDUP (English): LIU YUTIAN, Xinhua correspondent
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): SEEPHEEPHE MAHAO, Lesotho journalist
3. various of BRI-related footages
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): BOUNFAENG PHAYMANIVONG, Lao journalist
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): AMEEN MUNEER MOHAMMED AL-OBAIDI, Iraqi journalist
6. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): JELENA GRUBOR STEFANOVIC, Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
7. SOUNDBITE 5 (English): MOHAMMAD A. ABUNAYYAN, Chairman of ACWA power, Saudi Arabia

STORYLINE:

STANDUP (English): LIU YUTIAN, Xinhua correspondent
"This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Over the past decade, the BRI's circle of friends has continued to expand, involving countries in different regions, at different development stages. Why is it so popular? Here, I try to find the answers."

Seepheephe Mahao is a journalist from Lesotho, a country in southern Africa with a population of only 2.2 million.

As the only Lesotho journalist at the forum, his trip to Beijing was not easy, which took him nearly 30 hours.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): SEEPHEEPHE MAHAO, Lesotho journalist
"From the beginning, most countries did not understand. When it's growing stage by stage. No one wants to be left out of it. It can actually help our economy to grow. It's the best initiative of all time in this century, the best way."

Since its launch 10 years ago, the BRI has evolved from ideas into actions, from a vision into reality.

So far, China has signed
more than 230 BRI cooperation agreements 
with over 150 countries
and 30-plus international organizations

In early October, China issued a white paper on the Belt and Road Initiative, in which high-quality cooperation was highlighted.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): BOUNFAENG PHAYMANIVONG, Lao journalist
"There are quite a lot of projects (that) are related to the BRI. They're not just about the infrastructure, it's now like a global connection, global integration. For my country, I think we need sustainable development, we need some technical support or financial support to focus on technical or vocational education for young generation."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): AMEEN MUNEER MOHAMMED AL-OBAIDI, Iraqi journalist
"Though the BRI is already ten years old, it's still burgeoning. Arab countries have witnessed great opportunities brought by the BRI. I think we can expect more fruitful results for the next decade."

A CEO Conference was held on the first day of the forum, during which government officials and entrepreneurs said the BRI will add more vitality to the common development for the world in the future.

SOUNDBITE 4 (English): JELENA GRUBOR STEFANOVIC, Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
"Serbia has supported and been part of the Belt and Road Initiative since its beginning. Our overall collaboration has been on an upward trajectory. Definitely, there is still room for collaboration and traditional connectivity. I think also in the next phase, we will see more of this digital aspect of the Belt and Road (Initiative) or the Digital Silk Road."

SOUNDBITE 5 (English): MOHAMMAD A. ABUNAYYAN, Chairman of ACWA power, Saudi Arabia
"I am very positive to say that the future will be much better in the BRI program, BRI impact and how it will again impact the people and the countries and the economy, to make people happier and to have better quality of life for people."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing.
(XHTV)