Belt and Road initiative poised to unlock regions' potential(4)

Transport transformed

China-Africa cooperation has led to the construction and upgrade of nearly 100,000 km of roads, over 10,000 km of railways, almost 1,000 bridges, and nearly 100 ports, according to China's National Development and Reform Commission, citing a report on China-Africa Belt and Road Initiative development published in August.

"Partner countries have gained a deeper understanding of the initiative, highlighting its practical value for economic and trade cooperation, as well as China's strong commitment to global development," Zhang said.

In the first 10 months of last year, trade in goods between China and its BRI partner countries reached 16.94 trillion yuan ($2.3 trillion), marking a 6.2 percent increase, while Chinese companies signed new project contracts worth over 1 trillion yuan in these countries, a 17.1 percent rise, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a news conference on Dec 6.

In 2024, China has signed Belt and Road cooperation plans with countries including Egypt, Timor-Leste and Peru. Brazil has also joined the Belt and Road international cooperation family.

"It's important that Brazil and China enhance cooperation as both countries hold significant untapped potential," Reinaldo Ma, a member of the Consulting Committee of the China-Brazil Business Council, told China Daily.

"Brazil and China have vast opportunities for collaboration," said Ma, who has provided legal services to Chinese companies investing in Brazil for two decades.

"Chinese companies bring substantial development potential, while Brazil offers a wealth of resources and opportunities for growth in sectors such as renewable energy, infrastructure and technology," Ma said.

Camoca, the university professor, said Brazil should maximize opportunities brought by the BRI, while focusing on strengthening its domestic infrastructure, ensuring that projects align with long-term development goals.

So far, China has signed Belt and Road cooperation agreements with over 150 countries and more than 30 international organizations.

Dilma Rousseff, chief of the New Development Bank and former president of Brazil, has said that never before in history has any initiative brought together over 150 countries like the BRI has done.

In Asia, the China-Laos Railway has been operational for three years and is a vital transportation corridor.

The Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in Indonesia, now over a year old, continues to provide smooth and convenient travel for local residents.

In Europe, Greece's Piraeus Port has undergone a transformation to become the continent's fourth-largest container port and a leading Mediterranean hub for container traffic.

In 2023, China proposed eight actions to support high-quality Belt and Road construction, aiming to advance construction in a "more pragmatic and efficient manner", said Zhai from Peking University.

The fourth symposium on Belt and Road construction in December provided "important guidance for the next decade of BRI progress", he added.

"Looking ahead, with the newly opened Chancay Port and the ongoing construction of the Hungary-Serbia Railway, the Belt and Road Initiative is expected to inject stronger and more resilient momentum into global trade and economic development," Zhai said.

For Rios and his team at Chancay Port, the journey is far from over. "The opening of the port is just the beginning," he said.