ABSTRACT

People-to-people exchanges and cooperation have always been a major theme in China’s foreign exchanges, and this also holds true for BRI. As a matter of fact, although BRI underscores the “hard” characteristics of infrastructure building and economic development, it does not neglect the “soft” exchanges and cooperation between humans. On the contrary, it has been identified as a main component and long-term foundation of BRI since the proposal of the initiative, and has been distilled into the concept of “understanding between people” that is a vital part of the interconnected development and a pillar of deepened cooperation for forming a community of shared future for mankind under the BRI. In September 2013, President Xi Jinping of China formally put forward the Silk Road Economic Belt and the concept of Five Types of Connectivity during his visit to Kazakhstan. He laid special emphasis on “Friendship between peoples is the key to good relations between states. To pursue productive cooperation in the above-mentioned areas, we need the support of our peoples. We should encourage more friendly exchanges between our peoples to enhance mutual understanding and traditional friendship, and build strong public support and a solid foundation for regional cooperation”. 1 This statement laid the ground for the role and positioning of people-to-people exchanges in BRI and identified that understanding between people is the long-term foundation for policy coordination, infrastructure connectivity, unimpeded trade and financial integration. Such positioning highly affirms the significance of people-to-people exchanges and cooperation.