중국, '일대일로' 개막<br /><br />China is hosting a forum on its Belt and Road project, the foreign policy initiative China says will build infrastructure around the world and promote global trade.<br />Kim Hyesung reports. <br />The second Belt and Road Forum has officially kicked off in Beijing.<br />Nearly 40 heads of state and government, and 5-thousand representatives from 150 countries and 90 international organizations, are attending the forum. <br />"We held the first Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation here two years ago and blueprinted cooperation featuring policy, infrastructure, trade, financial and people-to-people connectivity. And today, friends from across the world gather here again, and I look forward to working with all of you."<br />Known as the 21st century Silk Road, the trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative was unveiled by President Xi Jinping in 2013... aimed at boosting trade and connecting Asia, Europe and Africa through railroads and maritime routes. <br />The initiative covers over 70 countries, which together account for half of the world's population and a quarter of global GDP.<br />Korea's finance minister Hong Nam-ki is also attending the forum, and met with high level Chinese government officials including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank chief to boost economic cooperation. <br />Also at the forum is Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said China's Belt and Road initiative fits perfectly with the goals of the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union to boost trade in the region.<br />Putin held bilateral talks with Xi Jinping and discussed bilateral economic cooperation, and North Korea related issues.<br />This came just after arriving from his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Russia.<br />Kim Hyesung, Arirang News. <br />
