Kiev is to proceed with its efforts to fully join the Belt-and-Road Initiative, seeing it as a prime opportunity to boost agricultural trade between Asia and Europe
The Ukrainian capital, Kiev, is to step up its efforts to fully join the Belt-and-Road Initiative. It has been seen as a crucial opportunity by the Ukrainians to boost agricultural trade between Asia and Europe, especially between China and Ukraine, a Ukrainian told Chinese media player, Xinhua.
According to Vladyslava Rutyska, an advisor to Ukrainian Agriculture Minister said that "It is very important for us to take the advantage as a Silk Road country and let agricultural producers to reap benefits from it."
Part of the Belt-and-Road Initiative is to open a cargo train route to China via the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. One advantage of the train route is that it should allow the transportation of agricultural good to be quicker, giving them a longer shelf life at their eventually destination.
"The Silk Road is an essential trade tool, because the goods could be delivered to consumers within 12 to 14 days, while their transportation on the traditional maritime routes takes between 28 and 30 days. It is of great significance for the producers of short-lived commodities," Rutytska said.
The Belt-and-Road Initiative is one steeped in history, as thousands of years ago, the people of Eurasia opened up routes of trade and cultural exchanges that linked Asia, Europe and Africa. Later, and more commonly, this was known as the Silk Road. The Silk Road Spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit is what underlines the Belt-and-Road Initiative.
The Chinese government finalise a detailed report on the Belt-and-Road Initiative with this statement. "The Belt and Road cooperation features mutual respect and trust, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, and mutual learning between civilizations. As long as all countries along the Belt and Road make concerted efforts to pursue our common goal, there will be bright prospects for the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road, and the people of countries along the Belt and Road can all benefit from this Initiative."
More on the Belt-and-Road Initiative can be found here.
