"In the past decade, we have completed 1.0 version of the Belt and Road Initiative, from today, we are entering 2.0, with the focus on developing the economy, new energy, digital economy, etc. Those new industries will continue to promote the economic development of countries involved in the initiative. This is the original aspiration of China," said Zheng Yongnian, a professor of politics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen) while attending the opening ceremony of the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing.

More than 20 heads of state and senior government representatives as well as heads of international organizations attended the opening ceremony.

"The success of the Belt and Road Initiative has been phenomenal. The fact that over 150 countries and 30 international organizations have signed up to join is a clear indicator of success," said Kishore Mahbubani, former Singapore ambassador to the UN, at the ceremony. "The concern for people and the concern for the environment is very much part of the Chinese tradition. I think that is what maybe helps to distinguish China's development from what happened in the Western industrial revolution," he added.

"It'll continue to be the most successful development project in the world. It has been for the last 10 years and as it's got very good basis both practically and from the point view of its concepts and ideas," said John Ross, former director of economic and business policy for the mayor of London.

"BRI has provided the world with a viable alternative, particularly to the Global South where investment in infrastructure has been a bonding task," said Ong Tee Keat, president of Belt and Road Initiative Caucus for Asia-Pacific.

Based on the principle of "planning together, building together, and benefiting together", Belt and Road cooperation has extended from the Eurasian continent to Africa and Latin America. It transcends differences between civilizations, cultures, social systems, and stages of development and calls for an open, inclusive and interconnected world for common development.