China sees stronger trade, investment ties with BRI countries

BEIJING - China's trade and investment with countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) have flourished over the past few years, a senior official said Sunday.

China's investment in BRI countries has exceeded $100 billion so far, while China has received $48 billion of investment from those countries, Qian Keming, vice-minister of commerce, said at a press conference.

From 2013 to 2018, trade between China and BRI countries surpassed $6 trillion, official data showed.

China has established multiple economic and trade cooperation zones in BRI countries and generated over 300,000 jobs for local people, Qian said.

China will increase imports from BRI countries to promote balanced trade and help BRI companies and countries to use e-commerce, he added.