Editor’s note: In this column we introduce phrases frequently used in the Chinese media and by the Chinese government, thereby providing a succinct overview of China’s political thinking, its policies and ongoing reforms and transitions.  

“一带一路”

“一带一路”是“丝绸之路经济带”和“21世纪海上丝绸之路”的简称。2013年9月和10月,中国国家主席习近平出访中亚和东南亚时,分别提出了与相关国家共同建设“新丝绸之路经济带”和“21世纪海上丝绸之路”的倡议。该倡议以实现“政策沟通、设施联通、贸易畅通、资金融通、民心相通”为主要内容。

为了推进“一带一路”建设,中国在国内成立了推进“一带一路”建设工作领导小组,与丝绸之路沿线国家开展了密切协商,并于2015年3月公开发布了《推动共建丝绸之路经济带和21世纪海上丝绸之路的愿景与行动》。

The Belt and Road Initiative

The Belt and Road Initiative refers to the proposal to build a Silk Road Economic Belt and a 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. During his visits to Central and Southeast Asia in September and October of 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping unveiled the plans to implement this initiative in cooperation with related countries. The five pillars of the concept are: policy coordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration, and strengthened people-to-people bonds.

A steering group has been set up in China to facilitate implementation of this initiative, and close consultation has been ongoing with countries along the land and maritime Silk Roads. A white paper entitled Vision and Actions on Jointly Building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road was published in March 2015.

丝路基金

2014年11月8日,中国国家主席习近平宣布,中国将出资400亿美元成立丝路基金。丝路基金将为“一带一路”沿线国基础设施建设、资源开发、产业合作等有关项目提供投融资支持。它同其他全球和区域多边开发银行的关系是相互补充而不是相互替代的,将在现行国际经济金融秩序下运行。丝路基金绝非简单的经济援助,而是通过互联互通为大家的发展创造新的重大发展机遇。丝路基金是开放的，欢迎亚洲域内外的投资者积极参与。它的成立将会助推“一带一路”建设和亚洲地区互联互通。

Silk Road Fund

On November 8, 2014, President Xi Jinping announced that China would invest US $40 billion in setting up the Silk Road Fund. The fund will support the development of infrastructure and resources, and industrial cooperation, among other projects, in countries along the land and maritime Silk Roads. It will serve as a complement to, rather than a substitute for, other global and regional multilateral development banks, and operate under the existing international economic and financial order.

Rather than simply dispensing economic aid, the fund will create major development opportunities for all through increased connectivity. It is open, and welcomes the active participation of investors in Asia and beyond. Its establishment will spur implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative and promote regional connectivity.

丝绸之路精神

历史上的商业通道－丝绸之路,作为人文社会的交往平台,多民族、多种族、多宗教、多文化在此交汇融合。千百年来,丝绸之路承载的和平合作、开放包容、互学互鉴、互利共赢精神薪火相传。中国与丝绸之路沿线国家在维护民族尊严、捍卫国家主权的斗争中相互支持，在探索发展道路、实现民族振兴的道路上相互帮助，在深化人文交流、繁荣民族文化的事业中相互借鉴。习近平主席提议，新时期弘扬丝绸之路精神，就是要促进文明互鉴、尊重道路选择、坚持合作共赢、倡导对话和平。

The Spirit of the Silk Road

The historical trade route known as the Silk Road was also a platform for people-to-people and cultural exchanges, where people from various ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds met and assimilated. Embodying peace, cooperation, openness, inclusiveness, eagerness to learn from each other, and mutual benefit, the spirit of the Silk Road has been passed down over generations for thousands of years. China and other countries along the Silk Road have supported and helped each other in their efforts to defend national dignity and sovereignty, explore development approaches, and bring about national renewal. In learning from each other, they have benefited from expanded people-to-people and cultural exchanges and renewal of their national cultures.

President Xi Jinping has proposed a new initiative to promote the Silk Road spirit in the new era and boost interaction and exchanges between civilizations. The initiative calls for respect for the approaches to development that individual countries have chosen, and promotion of peace through mutually beneficial cooperation and dialogue.