Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov emphasized that the BRI has opened a new chapter in the development of the Eurasian continent. Over the years, Kazakhstan has leveraged this platform to expand partnerships, enhance mutual trust, and promote investment cooperation amid a volatile international environment. Looking ahead, he expects BRI countries to strengthen infrastructure connectivity, while advancing the digitalization of logistics and transport—such as utilizing electronic credentials, intelligent customs procedures, real‑time data exchange, and artificial intelligence to further optimize transport flows—so as to reduce logistics costs and improve transport efficiency. 

The transformative impact of the BRI is also unfolding on the African continent. Guinean Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah noted that in recent years, hybrid rice technology has taken root in Guinea and is helping the Guinean people "overcome hunger." In the future, he hopes that through technical cooperation, local communities will gain access to advanced technologies to improve the current state of agricultural development. 

Most BRI partner countries are developing economies, whose credit ratings are generally lower than those of advanced economies, often resulting in higher comprehensive financing costs. Liu Jun, President of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, suggested that various credit enhancement institutions be jointly involved in project financing. By introducing coordinated efforts from guarantee agencies, export credit agencies, insurers, and credit bureaus, and by leveraging complete logistics and information flows for precise pricing, financing costs can be made to truly reflect the actual conditions of industrial trade. 

This year marks the beginning of China's 15th Five‑Year Plan period and also the inaugural year of the full customs‑enclosed operation of the Hainan Free Trade Port. Liu Xiaoming, Governor of Hainan Province, stated that Hainan is advancing the development of a two‑way gateway hub connecting land and sea. In this process, Hainan is actively exploring smart port customs clearance and cross‑border digital trade services to empower trade entities. He expressed the hope that these explorations will, in the future, contribute valuable practical experience for the development of the digital "Silk Road." 

Source: China News Service