Xi calls for renewing Silk Road spirit at Belt and Road Forum welcome banquet

President Xi Jinping, his wife Peng Liyuan (front) and other distinguished guests of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation attend a welcome banquet in Beijing, May 14, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

Xi said that the Belt and Road Initiative embodies the aspiration for inter-civilization exchanges, the yearning for peace and stability, the pursuit of common development and the shared dream for a better life.

Noting that "we are at a fresh starting point, ready to embark on a new journey together," Xi said, "so long as we press ahead with a common vision without backpedaling or standing still, we will achieve greater connectivity and benefit from each other's development."

After the banquet, the guests, accompanied by Xi and his wife, watched a gala at the National Center for the Performing Arts.

Vice-premier Zhang Gaoli attended the banquet and the gala.