The opening ceremony of the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, held in Beijing on October 18, 2023, aroused a hot discussion among the teachers and students of Renmin University of China (RUC).

Zhang Donggang, Chair of the University Council, expressed that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is an initiative of major country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era. Universities should always bear in mind the greatness of the country, and actively act as participants, practitioners and promoters of the construction of the BRI. RUC would contribute to the construction of an open and inclusive, interconnected and common development world, and promote the building of a community of a shared future for mankind.

Lin Shangli, President of RUC, expressed that the exploration and practice of the Chinese path to modernization and the exchanges and cooperation between China and the Belt and Road countries not only provide Chinese experience and strength for the modernization of mankind, but also better serve the modernization of the rest of the world, and will surely promote the countries of the world to share the opportunities, seek common development and common prosperity. Inclusive development, win-win cooperation and consultative communication are important features of the Belt and Road.

The opening ceremony has inspired and energized the teachers and students of RUC.

Wang Wen, Executive Director of Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies of RUC, and Vice President of Silk Road College, expressed that he was excited and proud to have been invited to participate in the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. He also expressed his hope as a scholar to further deepen the research accumulated in the past decade. He also expressed that we are all duty-bound for the next golden decade of the BRI.

Yu Lan, graduate student of Silk Road School of RUC, and also a Pakistani international student, said, “As a Pakistani student studying in China, I have experienced first-hand the unprecedented doors of opportunity. I have witnessed the impact of the BRI on my hometown, Gilgit-Baltistan, which provides a lifeline between the two regions in the form of the Karakorum Highway. For me and many other Pakistani students studying in China, this is a life-changing experience, and we should cherish the opportunity to further our education and make our contribution to our hometown.”

The faculty and students of RUC also strive to provide richer support to deepen Belt and Road Partnerships.

Jiang Xiaoli, Associate Dean of the Silk Road School and the International School, and Professor of the School of Foreign Languages of RUC, said that BRI is a path of civilization, opportunity, prosperity and innovation. The Silk Road School will continue to give roses to others, flourish the garden of world civilization, and contribute to the joint promotion of the building of a community of a shared future for mankind.

Lena, PhD candidate of the School of Journalism and an Iraqi international student at RUC, expressed that BRI is a great initiative, a clear manifestation of China's path of peaceful development, and a firm determination that China has conveyed to the world. The world will realize the modernization of peaceful development, mutually beneficial cooperation and common prosperity for developing countries.

Jiao Xiangyue, graduate student of the School of Society and Population of RUC, expressed that the speech mentioned that “make a gift of rose, hand stay lingering fragrance.” It reminded him of the "helping others to help themselves" that social workers uphold in the course of their work. He hoped that he could learn from the BRI and apply the macro strategy of promoting the community of a shared future for mankind to his daily life to make achievements for others and help himself at the same time.

Besides, the faculty and students of RUC are determined to make unremitting efforts to promote the construction of the BRI into a new stage of high-quality development.

Cai Yongqiang, Professor of the School of International Cultural Exchange at RUC, expressed that looking ahead, the construction of the BRI will certainly help China's modernization to reach a new stage, and will further promote the realization of common global development and prosperity.

Mao Xinyu, graduate student of the School of Labor and Human Resources at RUC, expressed that the organization of this forum marks a new stage of high-quality development of the BRI, and will further promote the mobility of talents, provide new opportunities for China's development, open up new ways for cooperation and development of countries around the world, and narrow the distance between people's hearts and minds, share the development opportunities, and open up a new chapter of development!