China Reaffirms Belt and Road Commitment at Urumqi Meeting

China has reaffirmed its commitment to steadily advancing the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as the initiative’s international advisory body convened its 2026 annual meeting in Urumqi, Xinjiang, on July 17. The Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) Advisory Committee gathered under the theme “How to more effectively carry out Belt and Road international cooperation amid a complex and changing international landscape,” bringing together former heads of state, international experts, and senior Chinese diplomats to chart the initiative’s future direction.

Strategic Gathering in Xinjiang

The meeting, chaired by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, who serves as the Advisory Committee convener, included notable international figures such as former Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf and former Pakistani Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar. According to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the committee discussed seizing new opportunities, addressing new challenges, deepening connectivity, and strengthening international communication.

Xinjiang Party Secretary Chen Xiaojiang and Chairman Erkin Tuniyaz met with the committee members on the same day, with Chen describing Xinjiang as the “core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt” and highlighting the region’s expanding role in China’s high-level opening up, as reported by the Xinjiang government.

Shift Toward Quality and Technology

A central theme of the meeting was the transition from infrastructure-focused cooperation toward “high-quality” development. The committee recommended advancing “hard connectivity” (infrastructure), “soft connectivity” (rules and standards), and “people-to-people connectivity” (cultural exchange) in a coordinated manner. Discussions prominently featured green development, the digital economy, and artificial intelligence — reflecting a strategic pivot toward technology-driven partnerships.

According to a People’s Daily commentary published on July 22, committee members emphasized that the BRI has delivered tangible benefits to partner countries and provided resilience and growth potential for the global economy.

Expert Voices on Global Cooperation

Several committee members offered perspectives on the initiative’s evolving role. Mari Elka Pangestu, former World Bank Managing Director, stated: “The Belt and Road Initiative enables us to achieve connectivity — not just physical connectivity, but also connectivity in trade, investment, and people-to-people exchanges.” She further noted that the BRI “has become a core platform for maintaining open trade and technology transfer globally.”

Jeffrey Sachs, Professor at Columbia University, highlighted China’s contribution to the global green transition, remarking: “When I visited Samarkand, Uzbekistan, I toured a large-scale solar farm. The solar panels there were all manufactured in China. Through the Belt and Road Initiative, China has provided key technologies for the global green transition.”

Lord Paul Myners, former Chairman of Prudential plc, observed that the BRI’s cooperation networks “have covered ports, airports, and stations in many partner countries,” providing strong support for regional economic activity. He added that global challenges such as climate change, energy transition, and digital governance “can only be addressed through global cooperation.”

Countering Protectionist Trends

The meeting took place against a backdrop of rising protectionism and unilateralism. Ernest Mwenda, former Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, noted: “The world faces various challenges, and no single country can address them alone. At a time when multilateralism is under assault and weakening, China has provided an important solution for promoting cooperation to address global challenges.”

Li Daokui, Dean of the Institute for Chinese Economic Thought and Practice at Tsinghua University, highlighted China’s willingness to expand AI technology exchanges, particularly in agriculture and industry, signaling a new frontier for BRI cooperation.

Looking Ahead

The Urumqi meeting signals China’s strategic pivot toward quality-driven, technology-focused international cooperation under the BRI framework. With discussions on AI partnerships, particularly with Africa and developing countries, and an emphasis on green transition and digital infrastructure, the initiative appears to be entering a new phase that prioritizes technological collaboration alongside traditional infrastructure development.

The choice of Xinjiang as the venue underscores the region’s growing importance as a gateway for China’s westward economic engagement. As the international landscape continues to evolve, the BRI’s role as a platform for multilateral cooperation is likely to remain a central pillar of China’s foreign policy strategy.