The Thematic Forum on Clean Silk Road of the 2nd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

On April 25, at the opening ceremony of the Thematic Forum on Clean Silk Road of the 2nd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, the Beijing Initiative for the Clean Silk Road was jointly launched by China and countries concerned, witnessed by international organizations and delegates from the business and academic circles.

The thematic forum was divided into three sessions: Improving Business Environment, Ensuring Business Integrity and Compliance, and Strengthening International Cooperation on Combating Corruption and Promoting the Rule of Law.

Meanwhile, an Exhibition of the Clean China-Laos Railway Project was shown on the scene, attracting the attention of numerous delegates.

As an important part of the Trans-Asian railway network, the China-Laos Railway represents a flagship project of the pragmatic cooperation between the two countries. The supervisory authorities and participating construction companies of China and Laos view the building of a clean China-Laos Railway as their shared responsibilities and top priority, and are working together to ensure its implementation.

Li Shulei, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and Vice Chairman of the National Commission of Supervision of China, gave a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the sub-forum and called for all participants to join hands to make new progress in building a clean Silk Road, promote the high-quality development of the BRI, and deliver the benefits of the BRI to people in all related countries.

Miguel de Serpa Soares, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, said that the BRI had transformed from concept to action and resonated very well with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals of UN. It has become an important platform for building a community with a shared future for mankind.

The World Bank Group’s Vice President for Integrity Pascale Helene Dubois agreed, citing statistics from the World Bank’s business environment report which showed that China had moved up 32 spots from 78th place to 46th place on the business environment ranking as a result of its series of reforms.

Deputy Head of the Lao Government Inspection Authority Khamsouk Bounnhavong and the President of Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa Michael David Kuper shared their views, both emphasizing the importance of strengthening international governance against corruption, so as to guarantee the intensive, pragmatic, stable, and forward-looking development of the Belt and Road.

Over 150 delegates from 30 nations and international organizations attended the sub-forum jointly organized by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China and National Commission of Supervision of the People’s Republic of China. Memorandums of Understanding were later signed respectively between the National Commission of Supervision of China and Anti-Corruption Commissions of Philippines and Thailand.