BEIJING: World leaders gathered in Beijing on Sunday for the opening of the Belt and Road forum for International Cooperation, sharing their views on how to better advance the Belt and Road initiative. The followings are some quotable quotes of the representatives of the Belt and Road partners: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Let me make it very clear, the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) an economic undertaking is open to all countries in the region. Chilean President Michelle Bachelet The breadth of the One Belt, One Road, the high level of participation and its strategic dimensions, highlight its capacity to become the biggest economic cooperation project in place today. Czech President Milos Zeman The One Belt, One Road initiative is the most significant project in all our modern history. I salute China for this courageous, long-term project. Ethiopian Prime Minister Haile Mariam Desalegn The Belt and Road initiative is the largest and non-conflicting economic cooperation of the 21st century. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras We highly value the importance of this initiative for people-to-people contact, cultural exchanges and tourism and we see the great opportunities in the 21st century Maritime Silk Road. Special envoy of British Prime Minister Theresa May, Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond It is my belief that Britain lying at the western end of the Belt and Road is a natural partner in this endeavour. Special envoy of French President-elect Emmanuel Macron, Former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin This forum marks a new and decisive step in the progress of the initiative. To remedy the lack of infra-structure in Asia will require the efforts of all those good will ready to contribute to the region’s prosperity and that of the rest of the world. Special envoy of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Minister of Economic Affairs Brigitte Zypries The Belt and Road initiative aims to improve infra-structure between Asia and Europe. This will bring the world’s two largest trading partners in Asia and Europe closer. Peter Thomson, President of the UN General Assembly The Belt and Road initiative brings enormous benefits to all involved and serves as a main driver of the global transformation emerged by the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. World Bank President Jim Yong Kim For those in the less developed community, our greatest task is to raise our aspirations to meet those of the people living in the countries that are still in need of many more investments for development. The Belt and Road initiative is most remarkable for just the size of the aspiration. International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde The Belt and Road Initiative is about connecting cultures, communities, economies, people and about adding new economic flavours by creating infra-structure projects that are based on 21st-century expertise and governance standards. World Trade Organization Director General Roberto Azevedo Infrastructure is essential. A lack of proper transport network was on top of the trade cost list and One belt, One Road is hugely important in responding to this need. Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum The One Belt and One Road initiative is a pioneering, international framework based on an “open platform concept” which does not need a leader but a curator who acts as a catalyst and coordinator for ensuring win-win outcomes.