4. The "Belt" and "Road" initiatives are ones for open and inclusive economic cooperation.

Both the Economic Belt along the Silk Road and the Maritime Silk Road of the 21st century have been anchored on economic cooperation, and built on cultural and people-to-people exchanges. They foresee no interference in the internal affairs of the countries involved, nor do they seek to dominate regional affairs or secure spheres of influence in the region.

The "Belt" and "Road" initiatives look at ideas and suggestions for cooperation and development. They are not about building an entity or creating new mechanisms. The initiatives will rely on existing bilateral and multilateral mechanisms between China and other countries and use existing platforms of regional cooperation that have proven effective. They will not overlap or compete with existing cooperation mechanisms of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Eurasian Economic Community or ASEAN Plus China. If anything, they will enrich and enliven those mechanisms. We should open our mind and heart for the various cooperation initiatives and mechanisms, take a more pragmatic approach, and make them more effective and mutually reinforcing.

Inheriting the proud tradition of openness from the ancient Silk Road and adopting the "Open Regionalism" advocated by East Asian countries, the "Belt" and "Road" initiatives can only be more open and more inclusive, rather than becoming a secluded, ossified and exclusive mechanism. Instead of starting from scratch, the initiatives will be built on the continuation and upgrading of existing cooperation. The parties involved may consider linking their cooperation projects, both existing and planned, together into an integrated package for multiplied cost-effectiveness.

The "Belt" and "Road" initiatives foresee complete openness in geographical and country-specific reference. They may trace, but not be limited, to the past Silk Road, and all countries along the land and the maritime Silk Roads as well as all friendly neighbors of China can get involved. Central Asia, Russia, South Asia and Southeast Asia will be the priority direction. So will the Middle East and East Africa since they are where the "Belt" and "Road" join. Countries in Europe, CIS and Africa may also be included in the long run. What is more, the initiatives, as they make progress in the future, may involve a lot more projects, countries or entities, which can only ensure their increasing openness.

Some parts of the ancient Silk Road went through Russia, and the Tea Road as it was known strikes deep roots in the history of that country. Russia is a world power that spans across Eurasia, enjoying a major and traditional influence on the Continent and Central Asia in particular. To China, Russia is a good neighbor, good friend and good partner. In building the Economic Belt along the Silk Road, Russia is an indispensable partner. Around the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympic Games not long ago, the presidents of the two countries met again to have a positive and in-depth discussion on the subject of the Economic Belt along the Silk Road. Some existing cooperation projects between the two countries, such as oil and gas pipelines, Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe railway, West China-West Europe highway, and China’s participation in the development of Russia’s Far East and Eastern Siberia, can very well be integrated with the building of the Economic Belt along the Silk Road. The Economic Belt along the Silk Road is in the shared interests of China and Russia and complementary to the ongoing process of the Eurasian Economic Community. It may therefore become a drive for the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination.