President Xi vows mutual 'Belt and Road' benefit

President Xi Jinping has promised that China is looking to serve the long-term interests of all countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Xi made the remarks on Friday afternoon, at a group study attended by members of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on the history of the Silk Road and Maritime Silk Road.

"The Belt and Road Initiative, though initiated by China, is not only about China," he said. "I hope people in all countries along the Belt and Road will actually feel the benefit brought by the initiative."

The Belt and Road Initiative, which comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, was brought up by Xi in 2013, with the aim of building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road routes.

The initiative covers about 4.4 billion people in more than 60 countries, or 63 percent of the global population.

It aims to boost not only China's development but also that of other countries, Xi said. "While taking care of our own interests, we will give more consideration and care to the interests of other countries," he said.

He also urged Chinese companies to value not only economic returns from their investment projects in foreign countries but also their reputations as law-abiding and responsible entities.