Journalists from China and around the globe work at the media center of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation on Saturday. Over 4,000 registered to cover the event.[Zou Hong / China Daily]

High expectations were expressed by those who planned to attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which opens on Sunday in Beijing.

Government officials, business leaders and journalists voiced hopes that the forum will advance the Belt and Road Initiative's goals of globalization,regional interconnectivity and cultural exchanges among nations.

"I hope all forumparticipants can reach a greater consensus on trade liberalization," said Li Xuezhong,headofZhejiangprovince sdevelopmentandreformcommission."Zhejiang is known for exporting merchandise around the globe. It's actively exploring free trade zones and crossborder digital trade platforms.An open and transparent market environment is conducive to business in China and around the world."

Jose Vinals, chairman of the Standard Chartered multinational bank, said he expected many "tangible outcomes", particularly in financial cooperation. "(The forum) will not only enhance communication among governments,business communities and stakeholders but also discuss and develop cooperation mechanisms for the next phase of the initiative."

SAP Greater China's president,Mark Gibbs, said the software giant wants to "get more involved" in the initiative, saying it "enables a beautiful marriage between innovative technology and a thoughtout government plan to boost collaboration amongmultiple countries".

"It can effectively promote the application of technology in commercial environments," he said.

Wang Yupu, chairman of China Petroleum and Chemical Corp, or Sinopec, said, "Sinopechasbenefited from cooperating with economies supporting the Belt and Road Initiative for yearsbasedon...reciprocity."

Carina Verdu, a journalist with Spain's national Antena 3 Television station, said she hoped her reportingwouldintroduce the initiative to businesses fromher homeland that aspire to enter China.

"The Belt andRoad Initiative is a great opportunity not only for China but also for many countries around the world, including mine,Spain," she said. "I hope to hear more progress being made on trade facilitation and infrastructure building."

Yu Hasegawa, Moscow correspondent for Japan's TV Asahi Corp, said his coverage will focus on SinoRussian economic ties."One area of interest is to look at how the Belt and Road Initiative would bring newenergy to Asia."

Attendees working in the cultural realm also anticipated benefits."It encourages us to reviewthe history of how Eastern and Western civilizations communicated and learned fromeach other in ancient times andhowwe canenhance cultural dialogues in the future," said Shan Jixiang, director of Beijing's PalaceMuseum.

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