BRI cooperation proved more fruitful than expected: ambassador

ADDIS ABABA, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Over the last six years, cooperation under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has seen major progress and been proven more fruitful than expected, Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Tan Jian said.

The initiative has laid its groundwork and entered the stage of all-round growth, bearing fruits that will create more opportunities and cooperation for countries, he said to the press Thursday on the premises of the Chinese embassy in Addis Ababa, capital of the eastern African country.

He underlined that the BRI is not a talk-shop, but an action-oriented initiative that delivers tangible outcomes, and the second BRI forum to be hosted by China in late April will serve as an important platform to drive further cooperation under the BRI.

A total of 125 countries and 29 international organizations have so far signed BRI cooperation documents with China.

The upcoming BRI forum will also create an important platform, whereby China along with other parties takes stock of what has been achieved and draws a blueprint of future cooperation, Tan said.

"The BRI is an important initiative for international cooperation to enhance China's cooperation with global partners. The BRI represents a major breakthrough in both theory and practice, and it carries far-reaching significance," he said.

The world is experiencing profound changes with uncertainties and destabilizing factors, while the BRI demonstrates China's commitment to sharing development opportunities and outcomes with more countries, the ambassador noted.

"The BRI is guided by the principles of consultation and cooperation for shared benefits. It represents an approach to international cooperation featuring mutual respect, justice, equity and cooperation for win-win outcomes. And it is a commitment to multilateralism and an open global economy," he said.

Representatives from over 100 countries, including at least 37 heads of state or government, have confirmed attendance to the second BRI forum in Beijing later this month.