This aerial photo taken on May 23, 2023 shows the Rashakai Special Economic Zone under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in the northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. (China Road and Bridge Corporation/Handout via Xinhua)

Editor's note: In the autumn of 2013, China proposed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), igniting the imaginations of many by rekindling the spirit of the two-millennia-old ancient Silk Road. A decade later, the initiative has evolved from a vision into reality through the collaborative efforts of all participating nations, becoming a widely appreciated public good and a global driver of inclusive growth. Jawad Shabbir, a Pakistani Ph.D. scholar at the School of Earth and Space Science at Peking University, penned a short essay on the initiative.

Peking University, October 17, 2023: Great minds create great ideas, and Chinese President Xi Jinping's "Belt and Road Initiative" is one of his perfect global visions that has become a reality in a very short time period.

In order to build a community with a shared future for humankind, President Xi is focusing not only on China's growth but also on the entire world. No nation or country should be left behind on the path to the welfare of all humankind, Chinese President Xi Jinping has stated, adding that all countries and nations are equally entitled to development opportunities and rights to development.

Without cooperation and understanding among participants, there can be no peace in the contemporary world. To this end, China is taking the lead in promoting international collaboration. The People's Republic of China has created the most effective program for reducing poverty and provided an example of how to do so. The BRI is a game-changer for underdeveloped nations.

The third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which is highly anticipated, is being held in Beijing from October 17 to 18, 2023, on the special occasion of its tenth anniversary.

This photo taken on Aug. 29, 2023 shows the Peljesac Bridge in Komarna, Croatia. (Xinhua/Li Xuejun)

China launched the BRI in 2013 with the goal of creating infrastructure and trade networks along and beyond the historic Silk Road trade routes that connect Asia with Europe and Africa. Since then, China has signed more than 200 BRI cooperation agreements with a total of 150 countries and 30 international organizations by the end of 2023, across five continents. Researchers and world leaders alike are praising Chinese leadership for this admirable endeavor.

In my opinion, it's hard to downplay China's efforts, especially when it comes to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which is benefiting people around the world. It's time to get on board and play an effective role.

Written by: Jawad Shabbir
Edited by: Dennis Meng