'A Date with China' starts in Hainan

The international media tour 'A Date with China' kicked off in Haikou, South China's Hainan province, on Monday. As this year marks the 10th anniversary of China's proposed Belt and Road initiative, the tour will focus on the changes that have taken place over the past decade and strengthen the international community's consensus on the initiative.

China has been developing the Belt and Road Initiative since 2013, which creates sea and land routes in Asia, Africa and Europe.

The first route of the tour with the theme of "Advancing civilization exchanges, promoting mutual economic benefits" took Chinese foreign media correspondents, foreign internet users and domestic journalists to Hainan, where they explored economic development and regional cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative in cities such as Haikou, Wuzhishan, Lingshui and Sanya.

Tour participants visited the historical and cultural streets of Qilou to learn about the history of exchanges between Hainan and Southeast Asia.

The historic Qilou, or soto portico, which is well-preserved in Haikou City, is a type of Nanyang-style arcaded building with a strong mix of Chinese and Western architectural features. The east-west architectural style has made it one of the most unique streetscapes in the city, with over 600 existing qilou buildings on 12 streets.

Participants also visited the Guangdong-Hainan Railway Ferry Terminal, China's first inter-sea crossing. The terminal, as an important part of the province's transport links, connects the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and Hainan

This year's 'A Date with China' will be dedicated to showcasing China's modernisation opportunities and achievements to the world, as reported by China Daily, a pertner of TV BRICS.

The Belt and Road Initiative combines a land and sea route from China to Europe. It used to be called One Belt, One Road. The word "road" is not coincidental, as the concept is being developed under the banner of a new Silk Road. It is a collection of projects in various fields: transport, logistics, trade and others.

The PRC sees the initiative as a new mega-integration project with China as the leader capable of providing "public goods" to the countries of the region. Important goals are also the creation of uncontrolled energy and transport routes, improved relations with neighbouring countries and the creation of a positive regional environment. The Initiative is the most ambitious development project at present, and its implementation will lead to a significant increase in interconnectedness in the vast macro- and trans-regional space, primarily Asia and Eurasia, the expansion of activities and a full-fledged Chinese presence.

Photo: China Daily