China has seen robust trade and investment with countries participating in Belt and Road cooperation over the past five years, Vice Commerce Minister Li Chenggang, who is also China's international trade representative, said at a press conference in Beijing on Friday.
Belt and Road cooperation has yielded substantial results in the economic and trade sectors during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021–2025), with deepening trade and investment ties and increasingly integrated industrial and supply chains, the official said.
"In terms of trade, our trade in goods with BRI countries rose from 2.7 trillion U.S. dollars in 2021 to 3.1 trillion U.S. dollars in 2024, marking an average annual growth of 4.7 percent. Its share in China's total foreign trade increased from 45.3 percent to 50.7 percent, and further to 51.8 percent in the first half of 2025,"said Li.
"In terms of investment, from 2021 to the first half of this year, two-way investment between China and Belt and Road countries cumulatively exceeded 240 billion U.S. dollars, including over 160 billion U.S. dollars of direct investment in BRI countries and over 80 billion dollars of their investment in China," Li said.
Li said Belt and Road cooperation projects have advanced steadily, with more prominent comprehensive effect. From 2021 to the first half of this year, the business turnovers of China's overseas engineering contracts had cumulatively totaled nearly 600 billion U.S. dollars.
To develop emerging industries and expand cooperation space, China has signed investment cooperation memorandums with more than 50 BRI countries in digital, green, and blue economies. The Silk Road e-commerce cooperation has expanded to 36 partner countries.
China reports robust trade, investment with BRI countries
The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) is ready to completely withdraw from the governmental scene in the Gaza Strip and engage in a positive and constructive manner with the second phase of the plan to end the war in the enclave, said Hamas political bureau member Basem Naim on Friday. In a statement, Naim said that the ceasefire deal became an international plan after being adopted by the United Nations Security Council. However, it is now facing obstacles.
He accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of reneging on his commitments and escalating the situation, in an attempt to return to war and save his political career. Pointing out that Israeli strikes have caused hundreds of casualties since the announcement of the ceasefire, the Hamas official said the escalation cannot occur without cover or green light from the United States. He said Hamas has committed to all its obligations under the ceasefire agreement, as attested by the mediators and the U.S., adding that it is ready for the second phase of the agreement.
He emphasized the Movement's commitment to the establishment of a fully empowered Palestinian body to administer Gaza, and its complete withdrawal from the governmental scene.
Naim warned that the situation will not be sustainable if the continued escalation of Israeli military operations and the persistence of the catastrophic humanitarian situation remain unaddressed, adding that the circle of fire may expand, which is what Netanyahu aspires to.
Since a ceasefire took effect on Oct 10, 2025, Gaza's death toll has risen to 439 with 1,223 injuries, according to local health authorities on Friday. Rescue teams have recovered 688 bodies during that period. In the broader conflict, at least 71,409 Palestinians have been killed and 171,304 wounded since Israel's military campaign in Gaza began in October 2023.
Hamas ready for complete withdrawal from Gaza governmental scene: official
