beijing
As the distant echo of camel bells resonates across millennia, the roar of modern freight trains is heralding a new chapter of progress. From May 21 to 25, 2026, the 10th Silk Road International Exposition and the Investment and Trade Forum for Cooperation between East and West China (the "Silk Road Expo") opened in Xi'an. Spanning the decade from 2016 to 2026, the Silk Road Expo has undergone an extraordinary transformation. Its growth trajectory mirrors China's resolute commitment to high-level opening up and bears witness to the transformative power of cultural exchange and mutual learning under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Ambassadors to China from the Maldives, Vietnam, Côte d'Ivoire, and beyond joined the "Ambassadors' Tour," reflecting on a decade of shared dedication while looking toward a future of mutual opportunity.
Strategic Anchor: Championing a New Era of Openness
As the only national-level economic and trade fair in Shaanxi named after the Belt and Road Initiative, the Silk Road Expo was born with a mission: to serve the nation's opening-up strategy. Over the last ten years, it has matured from a regional trade gathering into a premier international platform covering investment, the digital economy, and cultural exchange. This year's Expo featured six specialized exhibition zones and over 20 marquee events. Notably, the debut of the "Silk Road Premium Products" (National Pavilions) marked a shift in Belt and Road cooperation from primarily government-led initiatives toward broader market-driven and people-to-people engagement.
The data tells a compelling story: the Expo's network of partners has expanded from 20+ countries and regions to over 60, attracting more than one million domestic and international participants to date. In 2025, Shaanxi's total trade with BRI countries reached a record RMB 292.32 billion, accounting for 54.3% of the province's total foreign trade. Moving from "selling products" to "providing solutions," and from "seeking markets" to "building ecosystems," the Expo's metamorphosis is a true reflection of the BRI's transition from rapid expansion to high-quality development.
Local Insights: A Blueprint for the Rise of Western China
The Silk Road Expo serves as a global window into Shaanxi's openness, allowing diplomats to experience the pulse of "Shaanxi Smart Manufacturing" firsthand. At the Yulin Jingbian Low-Altitude Economy Pavilion, the Maldives' Ambassador to China, Fazeel Najeeb, praised China's global leadership in the low-altitude economy sector. Meanwhile, in the Xianyang Intelligent Manufacturing Pavilion, over 220 high-precision products caught the eye of Tia Glegnini Gabriel, Minister-Counselor of the Côte d'Ivoire Embassy, who noted the "tangible room for cooperation" with international industrial needs.
At the China Railway Express (Xi'an) Assembly Center, Vietnamese Minister-Counselor Hoang Van Tuan highlighted the vast prospects for rail transport cooperation, expressing his hope for closer ties and the realization of new collaborative ventures between Vietnamese and Chinese enterprises.
In the first quarter of 2026, Shaanxi's total import and export value surged by 73.7% year-on-year—the fastest growth rate in China—with BRI trade specifically jumping by 86%. These figures signal the rapid rise of an inland reform powerhouse characterized by thriving industries and seamless logistics.
Future Horizons: A New Chapter of Shared Prosperity
A decade marks a milestone, but it is also a fresh beginning. Today, the Silk Road Expo has evolved beyond simply showcasing achievements and facilitating transactions to become a long-term platform for "building consensus and fostering industrial ecosystems." At this year's event, China's time-honored brands stood alongside Ankang's sericulture and silk industry. Diplomats tried their hand at silk-reeling and sampled mulberry-based products, experiencing a unique synergy in which culture empowers industry and industry, in turn, promotes cultural exchange.
From the flow of goods to the harmonization of trade rules, and from pavilions to factories and research labs, the Silk Road Expo has established a multi-dimensional cooperation network. Standing at this new historical juncture, Shaanxi remains committed to working with the global community to expand high-level opening up and promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation that delivers lasting and substantive results.
Opening Ceremony of the 10th Silk Road Expo
Fazeel Najeeb, Ambassador of the Maldives to China, photographing traditional handicrafts
Ambassadors to China visiting the "Silk Road Premium Products" (National Pavilions)
Ambassadors to China observing a robotics demonstration
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