The "Belt and Road Initiatives" covers five areas of communication and connectivity, highlights practical cooperation and project cooperation, and will bring tangible benefits to the peoples of the relevant countries:

First, communication on policies. All countries concerned can fully communicate with each other on economic development strategies and solutions. They can work out plans and measures for regional cooperation through consultations, to give a "green light" to policymaking for regional economic integration.

Second, connectivity of roads. China and relevant countries need to find ways to improve cross-border transportation infrastructure, and build up a transportation network connecting all sub-regions of Asia as well as Europe and Africa, to effectively solve the problems of "having no roads or contact," "having roads yet no contact" and "having contact but getting jammed."

Third, facilitation for trade. Countries concerned can explore the ways to facilitate trade and investment and make appropriate arrangements to remove trade and investment barriers, and improve the speed and quality of the circulation of the regional economy.

Fourth, circulation of currencies. Countries concerned should promote local currency clearing and currency swaps, and strengthen bilateral and multilateral financial cooperation. They should build regional developmental financial institutions, reduce transaction costs, increase the ability to withstand financial risks through regional arrangements, and make the region more economically competitive in the world.

Fifth, amity among peoples. China and relevant countries should consolidate the foundation of popular support for state-to-state relations, promote exchanges and dialogues among different civilizations, and strengthen friendly exchanges among the peoples, especially among the grassroots, so as to enhance mutual understanding and traditional friendship.

Implementation of the "Belt and Road Initiatives" is a long-term and systematic project. It therefore requires step-by-step efforts to increase overall regional cooperation.

The writer is Lecturer of Beijing International Studies University, and a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.shenbo75.com/opinion/YuNing.htm

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