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H.E Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammad Al-Khalifa, President of Bahrain’s Authority for Culture & Antiquities has taken part in Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, capital of China, on 14 May 2017. At least 29 heads of state or government and more than 1,500 delegates, including officials, academics, entrepreneurs, representatives of financial institutions and media organizations from 130 nations, as well as representatives from more than 70 international organizations, attended high-level meetings at the forum. The two-day forum is dedicated to President Xi Jinping’s signature foreign policy project, the Belt and Road Initiative (also known as “One Belt, One Road” after its two main components: the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road).

Speaking for the occasion, H.E Shaikha Mai said “ The importance of the forum lies in keeping up with the latest developments of the Silk Road project that Bahrain is taking part in. H.E also did not miss this opportunity to remind the conference participants of the common link between Chinese Silk Road and Bahraini Pearl Trail, saying “ We consider that Muharraq’s Pearling : Testimony of an Island Economy is an analogy to China’s Silk Road; indeed, the pearl trail reflects the genuine Bahraini identity and history starting with the trip of sailors embarking on pearl diving mission until the different commercial and economic operations of the time. It is there with great happiness and pride that Pearling : Testimony of an Island Economy, which will be inaugurated during the celebration of Muharraq as the Capital of Islamic culture in 2018, will be a crucial stop along the Silk Road”.

H.E has pointed out that the forum is considered a perfect gateway and platform for exchange of views, information and visions about the Silk Road objectives, as well as the concerted efforts to raise public awareness about the challenges lying ahead and expertise exchange with participating countries.

The Forum will also explore ways to address problems facing global and regional economy, create fresh energy for pursuing interconnected development and make the Belt and Road Initiative deliver greater benefits to the people of all countries. These messages from President Xi have outlined China’s vision and considerations for the Forum and set the direction for our preparatory work. A number of important early harvests have been made; economic corridor development is making steady progress, an interconnected infrastructure network is taking shape and trade and investment have increased significantly. The forum also highlighted Chinese future projects ; China Railway Express trains to Europe have been operating on the vast Eurasian continent, loaded with goods and matching the market needs of countries along the route. The trains have also set up a bridge of communication and friendship between peoples along the route, and become a welcome sight along the Belt and Road.The joint development of the Belt and Road Initiative is an important channel to step up international cooperation, a cause embraced and advanced by all parties. It is generating new development opportunities to make people's lives better. It is fair to say that this Chinese initiative is delivering benefits to the whole world.