Following are some of the highlights of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s keynote speech at the Forum on May 14.

“We will build an open platform, defend and develop an open world economy, jointly create an environment good for opening-up and development, and push for a just, reasonable and transparent international trade and investment system so that production materials can circulate in an orderly way, be allocated with high efficiency, and markets are deeply integrated.”

“We will not interfere in other countries’ internal affairs. We will not export our system of society and development model, and even more, will not impose our views on others. In advancing the Belt and Road, we will not re-tread the old path of games between foes. Instead we will create a new model of cooperation and mutual benefit.”

“We are living in a world with constant challenges: The world economy needs new growth drivers, its development needs to be more balanced and universal, the wealth gap should be narrowed, while some regions are plagued with turbulence and terrorism. Peace, development and governance are challenges for all human beings. This is what I keep thinking about.”

“History is the best teacher. History showed us that we can move along with mutual respect and development and towards the future of happiness, peace and harmony if we bravely walk the first step. The countries along the ancient Silk Road were once places with milk and honey, but now are full of turbulence, conflicts and crisis. Such conditions must be addressed. We must have mutual cooperation and a sustainable security outlook, try to tackle hot issues and insist on political resolution.”

“A country’s opening-up is like the creation of butterfly from cocoon. It brings rebirth with short-term pain. We must orient the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative on opening-up and try to solve problems concerning economic growth and balance.”
“No matter if they are from Asia and Europe, or Africa or the Americas, they are all cooperative partners in building the Belt and Road.”

Parts of President Xi Jinping’s speech as reported by the South China Morning Post.