Benefitting all

The two sessions play a directive role in China's work focuses for the whole year, which is written in the government work reports of all levels. The national two sessions are usually held in March each year.

Since the BRI was proposed by China in 2013, it has been a cornerstone of government work reports in various regions.

The Central Economic Work Conference held in December, which decided on priorities for the economic work in 2025, also urged solid progress in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and improvement in the overseas comprehensive service system, according to Xinhua.

In 2025, China's commitment to high-quality Belt and Road cooperation will not waver, and the principle of seeking the greatest common denominator for cooperation with other countries will remain unchanged, the Global Times said in an editorial published on January 2.

The significant contribution of BRI to the world lies in China offering a widely applicable development model and reference for numerous developing countries, said Wang Peng, an associate research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences.

"The BRI facilitates economic growth in participating countries and helps bridge the gap with developed nations, particularly in technology. A cornerstone of the BRI's success is the principle of shared development. China shares development opportunities with the world, explores new paths to promote common development, and achieves mutual benefits and win-win results," said Wang.

China's actions and propositions in advocating for multilateralism and an open world economy have set an example for the international community and provided strong support for global cooperation, said Wang.

Some "small and beautiful" projects have enhanced and will continue to enhance the quality of life for people in BRI partner countries. The emphasis also echoes the goal of fostering a global community with a shared future, said Liang Haiming, chairman of the Hong Kong-based China Silk Road iValley Research Institute.

So far, China has established high-quality BRI partnerships with over 150 countries, and backed more than 1,100 projects with about $20 billion in development funding