Silk Road International UnionInitiative

The “Silk Road Economic Belt” and the “21^st Century Maritime Silk Road” (also known as the “Belt and Road Initiative”) is an initiative aiming at promoting human civilization and boosting the prosperity and development of countries along the route. It has drawn close attention and received positive responses from the international community in general. However, against the complexity of global politics, economy, society, culture and religions, the Initiative calls for further recognition and participation.

It is our shared belief that the global development has entered a critical stage.  It is necessary for the international community, global market and private capital to work together in line with the strategies of the Belt and Road Initiative for building an open and interconnected global network.  Through in-depth exchange, cooperation and coordinated efforts, parties of the network can enhance mutual trust, eliminate skepticism and form consensus. Better understanding and promoting the Silk Road Spirit, i.e. “peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit”, will help us reaching agreement on promoting world economic recovery and national development,and ultimately creating a stable international environment.

Uniting the former political leaders, scholars, business and financial institution leaders from countries along the route, the International Finance Forum (IFF) initiates the establishment of the Silk Road International Union (SRIU) for the purpose of promoting strategic development of the Belt and Road Initiative, and giving full play to the significant and leading role of finance. The SRIUaspires to establish an international platform for non-governmental exchange and communicationin the fields of economy, social development, culture and education, science and technology innovation, and inter-civilization dialogue. Such efforts will help build understanding and trust, encourage the whole world to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, which in turn will promote world development and prosperity. To achieve this goal, we hereby propose the following: 

Firstly, to establish the Silk Road International Union (SRIU) and unite the former political leaders, scholars, business and financial institution leaders from countries along the route and neighboring statesto work together as an international think tank for building a network open to the whole world. Through strategic cooperation among key countries along the route,a mainframe of a public diplomacy and strategic cooperation network could be set up to bring about better coordination and synergy.

Secondly, to form amechanism for dialogue, personnel exchanges, and jointresearch among the countries and regions in the Belt and Road zone. Through the SRIU platform, establishing a mechanismforsharing and publishing research findings, holding academic seminars, conducting joint researches, and facilitating personnel exchanges. By commissioning, engaging, and fundingthink tanks and scholars to various research, the difficulties, concerns, and expectations of relevant countries could be identified and responsive strategies be developed.

Thirdly, to holdthe SRIU summit on a regular basisthe IFF and SRIU platform for sharing the development concepts and experiences of all member countries, discussing the Belt and Road construction andinternational development issues of relevant sectors. Striving to build an authoritative platform forthepolitical, business, academic and research circles of the relevant countries to conductcomprehensive dialogue, exchanges and cooperation.

Fourthly, the SRIU provides a multilateral channel and mechanism for promotingcooperation between the international community, global market and private capital underthe Belt and Road Initiative. When appropriate, a financial institution by private capital could be established to support the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Fifthly, anchored with the IFF, establishing theSRIUBoard Committee as the governing body,the permanent secretariat responsible for daily operations and coordination, and the SRIU membership mechanism.

We firmly believe the initiation of the “Silk Road International Union” is a milestone marking the even wider recognition ofthe “Belt and Road Initiative” bythe international community, global market and the private capital. It will boost comprehensive and sustainable development, economic growth, and stability of the entire world.