A thousand years at a glance, the sea changes. From the sound of camel bells to the smooth movement of trains, from the row of boats to the roar of sirens, from the "air corridor" to the "space Silk Road", for thousands of years, this road has built a common bridge and bond between China and the world, and has been passed down from generation to generation.

 

The golden wind is soughing, and the Dan maple is welcoming the autumn. This year, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation was held in Beijing from October 17 to 18. Builders, participants and contributors of the Belt and Road Initiative from all over the world gathered to review the progress of cooperation, sum up cooperation experience, and join hands to open up a better future.

 

Jointly build the Belt and Road Initiative

 

Ten years fruitful

 

From the grand "brushwork" strategy, to the fine engraved "Gongbi painting"; From vision planning to reality landing; From hard connectivity to soft connectivity, the Belt and Road Initiative, which originated in China and benefits the whole world, has promoted a large number of "small but beautiful" and "precise" cooperation projects to take root in more and more countries and fields under the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits.

 

 

 He stressed that in the past 10 years, we have stuck to our original aspiration and worked hand in hand to promote the Belt and Road international cooperation from scratch, thriving and achieving fruitful results. Belt and Road cooperation extends from the Eurasian continent to Africa and Latin America. More than 150 countries and more than 30 international organizations have signed cooperation documents on Belt and Road cooperation, held three Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, and set up more than 20 multilateral cooperation platforms in specialized fields.

 

Over the past decade, thanks to the concerted efforts of all parties, the Belt and Road Initiative has evolved from a Chinese initiative to international practice, and has gradually become a popular platform for international cooperation. Over the past decade, the Belt and Road Initiative has not only brought tangible benefits to relevant countries, but also made positive contributions to the sound development of economic globalization and the improvement of the global governance system, and put forward an effective "China plan."

 

Deepen the Belt and Road Initiative

 

Jingdiao High-quality development of China's Automotive industry "Meticulous painting"

 

In the past 10 years, from open innovation to integration into the world, Chinese automobiles actively practice the "Belt and Road" initiative, under the grand "brushwork" of "The Belt and Road", Chinese automobiles use the wheel as the brush, with real product competitiveness, technical strength, brand concentration, industrial chain and supply chain resilience, and concentrate on drawing the high-quality development of China's automobile industry.

 

In the process of implementing the "Belt and Road Initiative", China's automobile industry is active on the global stage with openness and innovation. More and more Chinese cars are entering the world, and the global visibility and reputation of Chinese brand cars are rapidly improving. More and more Chinese enterprises are growing rapidly and emerging, gradually becoming the leader in the global automobile industry chain and supply chain.

 

Data show that in the first three quarters of this year, Chinese auto companies exported a total of 2.117 million vehicles, an increase of 55.5% year-on-year. Among them, 389,000 new energy vehicles were exported, an increase of more than 1 times, and electric vehicles have become one of the "new three" leading China's foreign trade exports. In the process of deepening the "Belt and Road", Chinese car companies have achieved fruitful results.

 

In the past 10 years, Zogo's Chinese cars on the global circuit have worked with partners to deduce one after another "car stories" of open cooperation and mutual benefit under the "Belt and Road" Initiative.

 

Faw South Africa, which has actively integrated into and deeply participated in the construction of the "Belt and Road", has twice won the title of "Nelson Mandela Bay Top 50 Enterprises" and many local officials such as South Africa's Minister of Trade and Industry and Mayor Nelson Mandela commented that FAW's localized operation in South Africa is "a model of China-South Africa cooperation". As of the first half of this year, the company's local cumulative sales have exceeded 15,000 units, and the overall commercial vehicle market share ranks among the top in the South African market.

 

In 2022, Dongfeng exported 240,000 vehicles overseas, a record high, an increase of 57% year-on-year, of which 81,000 new energy vehicles were exported, generally higher than the industry level; Cars are exported to more than 100 countries and regions, and breakthroughs have been achieved in Europe, South America, Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

 

As one of the earliest "going out" car companies, BAIC Group has actively participated in the construction of the "Belt and Road" in the past 10 years. At present, BAIC International has established 180 sales and service outlets in 37 countries around the world. Beiqi Foton participated in the "Belt and Road" to build the country's major foreign aid projects, infrastructure projects, energy and mineral projects totaled more than 110.

 

As a leader in China's bus industry, Yutong has more than 80% of its overseas target sales markets so far, all of which are distributed in the "Belt and Road" cooperation area. In addition to expanding the sales scale of overseas markets, Yutong has also actively carried out production capacity and technical cooperation with the local, achieved local assembly and production capacity and technical cooperation of bus parts in many countries, deepened the talent training mechanism in overseas markets, and promoted the development of the local automobile industry.

 

With the "One Belt and One Road" counterparts, SinotruK actively participates in the economic construction and development of countries in the cooperation region. At present, there are more than 500,000 heavy trucks working in mining areas, ports and other fields, serving the construction of major projects such as roads, railways and hydropower stations. Sinotruk has become a reliable partner of overseas customers in logistics and equipment.

 

From the time dimension, the wonderful "car stories" on the "Belt and Road" occur frequently almost every year.

 

In 2013, BYD began to enter the ASEAN market and create a distinctive "Belt and Road" green business card with the core technology advantages of new energy vehicles. Today, from ASEAN to Thailand, BYD's green footprint now covers more than 400 cities in more than 70 countries and regions on 6 continents.

 

In 2014, Chery, Brilliance, Dongfeng, Jiangling, Haima, Lifan, Geely, Changan, BAIC, BYD, Jianghuai and other Chinese car companies have "collectively" set up representative offices and maintenance stations in Iran, and strive to spread the Iranian market;

 

In 2015, JAC Automobile laid out the Kazakhstan market and signed the "JAC product KD Assembly Agreement" with SAP Company;

In 2016, China-Europe freight trains arrived in Europe for the first time, escorting China's automobile exports.

 

In 2017, Geely Auto acquired 49.9% of the shares of Proton Motors in Malaysia, becoming the exclusive foreign strategic partner of Proton Motors, and Geely also became the first Chinese auto brand to exchange technology for markets overseas.

 

In 2018, the Global Technical Regulation for Electric Vehicle Safety (GTR20), the world's first technical regulation specifically for electric vehicles, was officially released by China as the main lead country. With the continuous accumulation of electric vehicle technological innovation advantages, Chinese automobiles began to export and share core automotive technical regulations and standards globally;

 

In 2019, the Tula plant of Great Wall Motor in Russia was completed and put into operation, which became the first overseas full-process vehicle manufacturing base of Chinese automobiles.

 

In 2020, China's new car-making forces represented by NIO and Xiaopeng will get on the express train of the "Belt and Road" to open up overseas markets such as Europe.

 

In 2021, China's auto exports exceeded 2 million for the first time, and the "Belt and Road" initiative has injected strong momentum into the export growth of China's own brand cars.

 

In 2022, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will come into effect, reducing tariff and non-tariff measures, and promoting multilateral trade and regional automotive industry chain development and investment cooperation.

 

...

 

From vehicle exports to production capacity layout, from overseas mergers and acquisitions to technology output, from traditional car enterprises to new forces in car manufacturing, along with the transformation and upgrading of China's auto industry, the "Chinese auto imprint" left on the "Belt and Road" is also full of weight.

 

Under the "Belt and Road" initiative, China's automobile industry actively promotes the "soft connectivity" of rules and standards, and promotes the deepening of international standardization cooperation mechanisms in standardization practical cooperation in fields such as new energy vehicles. From product to strategic layout, from technology output to standard connectivity, China's automotive industry is continuing to build the "Belt and Road" in the name of high-quality development.

 

A few days ago, the China-Asean Automobile Standardization Dialogue was officially incorporated into the cooperation mechanism of the Sub-Committee on Standards, Technical Regulations and Conformity Assessment Procedures of the China-Asean Free Trade Agreement. Over the years, in the process of implementing the "Belt and Road Initiative", China and ASEAN have carried out long-term exchanges, research and cooperation in the field of automotive standards and regulations, industrial policies and certification testing. As the designated bodies of the two governments, the Automotive Products Working Group of the China Automotive Center and the ASEAN Standards and Quality Advisory Committee promote the exchange and cooperation activities of automotive standardization under the "Sub-Committee on Standards, Technical Regulations and Conformity Assessment Procedures of the China-Asean Free Trade Area", and support the integrated development of the automotive industry of the two sides with standard connectivity.

 

Discuss, share and achieve win-win results

 

Eight actions to support high-quality Belt and Road Cooperation

 

The spirit of the Silk Road, enduring for millennia and generations, is the essence of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit. It is also the most important source of strength for the Belt and Road Initiative.

 

 It emphasizes that:

 

"Fourth, promote green development. China will continue to deepen cooperation in green infrastructure, green energy and green transportation, increase support for the International Alliance for Green Development under the Belt and Road Initiative, continue to hold the Belt and Road Green Innovation Conference, and build a dialogue and exchange mechanism for the photovoltaic industry and a green and low-carbon expert network. We will implement the Belt and Road green investment principle and provide training to 100,000 people in partner countries by 2030.

 

Fifth, promote scientific and technological innovation. China will continue to implement the Belt and Road Science and Technology Innovation Action Plan, host the first Belt and Road Science and Technology Exchange Conference, expand the number of joint laboratories jointly built with other parties to 100 in the next five years, and support young scientists from other countries to come to China for short-term work. China will put forward the global AI governance initiative at this forum, and is willing to strengthen exchanges and dialogue with other countries to jointly promote the healthy, orderly and safe development of global AI."

 

At present, addressing climate change has become a global consensus, and China has actively pledged to "double carbon" and accelerated its efficient implementation. Focusing on the automotive industry, in the journey to high-quality co-construction of the "Belt and Road", actively implement the "dual carbon" strategy, reduce the whole industrial chain, the whole life cycle of carbon emissions, in the open cooperation, with more international partners to reduce carbon emissions in the automotive and transportation sector to contribute more "Chinese wisdom" and "Chinese solutions" is imperative.

 

It is undeniable that in more open innovation and cooperation, the transformation power and vitality of China's automobile and the global automobile industry will be more fully stimulated and released, in the context of high-quality co-construction of the "Belt and Road", the road to integration, common progress and win-win innovation in the global pattern will be wider and wider.

 

The Belt and Road Initiative, which originated in China and benefited the whole world, will move towards a new decade worth looking forward to. The Chinese automobile in it will continue to explore the new connotation, new space and new achievements of high-quality co-construction of the "Belt and Road" with an open attitude and global partners, and drop an extraordinary "automobile imprint" in the picture of the "Belt and Road" in the new 10 years.

 

Originally published by China Automotive News on October 19, 2023