Response to "the Belt and Road Initiative"

During the period of the 13th Five-Year Plan, Shaanxi actively responded to "the Belt and Road Initiative". Relying on its advantageous location, sound infrastructure, strong scientific and educational power, solid industrial foundation, and high-quality human resources, Shaanxi has made advances and breakthroughs in interconnection of infrastructure, economic and trade cooperation and cultural exchanges. We have also accelerated the construction of a comprehensive transportation system of “aviation stimulation, land-air interaction, and multimodal transportation” to build Shaanxi into a new starting point for the Silk Road Economic Belt. Shaanxi is striving to build "five centers", including the transportation, trade and logistics center, the international capacity cooperation center, the science, technology and education center, the international tourism center, and the regional financial center, which will truly transform the location advantage into a driving force of the economic development in Western China.

With the creation of a highland of reform and opening up in the hinterland, Shaanxi's ratio of export-oriented economy has continued to improve.The number of comprehensive bonded areas ranks sixth in the country. Xi'an Xianyang International Airport has routes to 37 countries and regions around the world, and its passenger and cargo throughput ranks eighth and tenth respectively in the country. The average annual growth of foreign trade was 14.8%, and the actual utilization of foreign capital and the introduction of domestic capital increased by 12.8% and 13.9% respectively. Shaanxi's response to"the Belt and Road Initiative" has kept growing in both depth and substance.

1.International Cooperation Against COVID-19

Shaanxi has donated 6.86 million yuan worth of various kinds of anti-pandemic materials to 22 twin cities in 15 countries, 26 Shaanxi overseas associations in 17 countries, Chinese embassies and consulates abroad, Shaanxi overseas students in 15 countries, and four friendly organizations.

Remote Academic Seminars via network video were held between medical institutions in Shaanxi and their counterparts in over 40 countries, through which Shaanxi shared with the international community experiences in fighting again COVID-19. In line with the requirement of preventing imported cases, Shaanxi conducted 209 international flights diversion tasks, making contribution to the overall success of COVID-19 prevention nationwide.

2.Xi'an Assembly Center of China-Europe Railway Express Included in the National Demonstration Project

The radiation and carrying capacity of Xi'an Assembly Center of China-Europe Railway Express was increasing, and the first automated unmanned railway terminal and Xi'an Comprehensive Port in China were completed.

In 2020, 3,720 trains and 15 lines were operated in the China-Europe Railway Express, and several innovative products were launched, including public trains, customized trains and German express lines. The core indicators of Central Asia Express trains held the leading position in China.

3.SCO Agricultural Technology Exchange and Training Demonstration Base Officially Opened

SCO Agricultural Technology Exchange and Training Demonstration Base was officially opened on October, 22, 2020. Up to now, the administration and management of the base went smoothly. The Modern Agricultural Exchange Center has started to construct, and the Multilingual Translation Service Center for International Cooperation in Modern Agriculture has been official put into use. The Research Institute of Modern Agricultural Development has been established, and the upgrading project of the agricultural technology training base has been launched in an all-round way.

4.International Aviation Hub Speeding up Construction

The construction of Phase III Expansion Project of Xi'an Xianyang International Airport has been launched, with the accelerated construction of Xi'an Airport Economic Demonstration Zone, and the business of Northwest Bonded Aviation Oil Business in full swing.

By the end of 2020, Xi'an Xianyang Airport has launched airlines reaching 36 countries and regions, opened 6 new freight routes, with a total of 33 routes, and opened Seoul-Xi'an-Los Angeles airline, the first intercontinental freight route with the fifth freedom right. In 2020, the freight and mail throughput achieved a leap forward growth, reaching 376,300 tons, ranking the tenth in China.

5.Unremitting Optimization of Open Platform

Six collaborative innovation zones were established. Xixian Airport Comprehensive Bonded Zone(Phase I) and Baoji Comprehensive Bonded Zone have officially passed the national inspection. The Start-up Area of China-EU Cooperation Industrial Park is progressing smoothly, and the China-Russia Silk Road Innovation Park was built and put into use. The new logistics base in Xi'an International Port Area (Phase I) and Baoji Yangping Railway Logistics Base have been completed and put into use. A total of 34 "overseas warehouses"have been constructed.