By Xu Xiujun, deputy director of International Politics and Economics Department, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; cartoon drawing by Liao Tingting

On June 22, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a speech at the Uzbek Legislative Chamber in Tashkent, “Create new brilliance of the Silk Road with joint efforts.”

He proposed to build a mutual-benefiting cooperation network, new pattern of cooperation, and plural-cooperation platforms, and to boost programs in key areas so as to bring the Belt and Road Initiative to a higher level with a clear direction and broader space.

Xi and Uzbek President Karimov watched via video link the opening ceremony of the 19.2-km railway tunnel, which is part of the Angren-Pap Railway line that connects Tashkent and Namangan.

During Xi’s Europe-Asia tour, promoting the Belt and Road Initiative would be a pivotal theme. Xi’s speech to explain new thinking on the initiative in his last stop has significant meaning.

Three years ago, it was in Central Asia that Xi announced to the world, the strategic concept of building the “the Silk Road Economic Belt Initiative.”

Xi has blown a new trumpet for touting the Belt and Road with full-speed again on the soil of Central Asia to echo with the past and calling for a brighter future.

The prolonged applause after Xi’s speech demonstrates the resounding success of the Belt and Road winning people over from all across the world.

Xi’s new proposal of “intensive cultivation and lasting efforts” has also touched people’s hearts with their best interests in mind.

People believe Xi’s speech has offered new impetus to building a stronger friendship circle for the Belt and Road Initiative.