LUXEMBOURG - Visiting Chinese Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang and Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister Xavier Bettel have agreed that their two countries should work together to enhance cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

The two leaders made the remarks when attending the second Zhengzhou-Luxembourg "Air Silk Road" Forum for International Cooperation here on Thursday.

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Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, recalled that in June 2017, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed supporting the construction of the "Air Silk Road" between the central Chinese city of Zhengzhou and Luxembourg. The chair's statement of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in October 2023 announced that the second Zhengzhou-Luxembourg "Air Silk Road" International Cooperation Forum would be held.

The forum here is a practical action to implement the consensus reached by leaders of the two countries to deepen the Belt and Road cooperation, holding significant importance, Ding noted.

Wiseler (President of Luxembourg's Parliament Claude Wiseler) commended China for lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty through its own efforts over the past few decades, saying it is a significant contribution to global development

Ding also said that over the years, both countries have upheld the Silk Road spirit and achieved remarkable results in the construction of the "Air Silk Road," establishing an aerial bridge of connectivity and making it a landmark project of the Belt and Road cooperation.

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Looking to the future, China stands ready to work with Luxembourg to build a more efficient aviation transportation system, forge closer economic and trade cooperation, and develop diverse and interactive cultural exchanges to boost the high-quality development of the "Air Silk Road," Ding added.

Noting that China is further deepening reform comprehensively and promoting high-quality development through high-level opening-up, Ding stressed that China's door to the world will only open wider, offering broader market opportunities for all countries and bringing more chances for win-win cooperation.

"We welcome the active participation of all countries, including Luxembourg, in the Chinese modernization process, sharing the fruits of China's reform and development to achieve common development and prosperity," he said.

For his part, Bettel said that the "Air Silk Road" between Luxembourg and Zhengzhou has become an important link in strengthening bilateral relations.

Highlighting that during the COVID-19 pandemic, this route transported a large amount of Chinese medical supplies, strongly supporting Luxembourg and other European countries in overcoming the pandemic, Bettel said Luxembourg is ready to take this forum as an opportunity to closely cooperate with China in various fields under the BRI framework.

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After the forum, Ding and Bettel jointly visited the achievements exhibition of the "Air Silk Road".

One-China policy reaffirmed

President of Luxembourg's Parliament Claude Wiseler said Friday that Luxembourg firmly adheres to the one-China policy, recognizing that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China.

Wiseler commended China for lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty through its own efforts over the past few decades, saying it is a significant contribution to global development.

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During the meeting, Ding said that China attaches great importance to its relationship with Luxembourg, regarding it as a reliable partner within the European Union.

The two countries' commitment to mutual respect and seeking common ground while shelving differences, Ding said, have helped China-Luxembourg relations withstand the shifting international situation and challenges over the past 50 years to reach the current level of development.

Emphasizing that the Taiwan question is at the heart of China's core interests, Ding said China hopes and believes that Luxembourg will continue to adhere to the one-China principle, thus safeguarding the political foundation of China-Luxembourg relations.