On July 12, 2023, the Fifth Meeting of the Advisory Council of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (hereinafter referred to as "the Advisory Council") was held in Beijing. Convenor of the Advisory Council and Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu chaired the meeting.
Members of the Advisory Council said that the Belt and Road Initiative has made remarkable achievements, strongly facilitated connectivity among countries, and made great contributions in such areas as promoting international cooperation, advancing an open world economy and boosting sustainable development. China's joint efforts with all other parties to actively build a Silk Road for health, a digital Silk Road, and a green Silk Road during the pandemic have demonstrated the strong resilience and vitality of the Belt and Road Initiative and have made the Silk Road a widely-welcome road with hope.
Members of the Advisory Council believed that the world today needs the Belt and Road Initiative more than ever before, and expressed their hope to take the opportunity of holding the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to stick to the philosophy of cooperation featuring extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, adhere to connectivity as the mainstay of cooperation, open up new fields of cooperation in such areas as a green Silk Road and a digital Silk Road, and send a positive message that the Belt and Road Initiative is committed to advancing solidarity and cooperation, connectivity and common development among countries around the world.
Members of the Advisory Council, including former Prime Minister of Egypt Essam Sharaf, former World Bank Managing Director Mari Elka Pangestu, former Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific of the United Nations Shamshad Akhtar, former Senior Vice President of World Bank Justin Yifu Lin, former Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission Erastus J.O. Mwencha, Professor Kishore Mahbubani of National University of Singapore, and Chairman of Abrdn PLC of the UK Douglas Jardine Flin, among others, attended the meeting.