2019年CRI 一带一路成为仅次于欧盟的世界第二大经济带（在线收听）

The report has been compiled by the China Center for International Economic Exchanges.

It notes that trade among countries connected to the Belt and Road Initiative has been expanding remarkably since it was firstly initiated.

Zhang Xiaoqiang is a vice chair with the China Center for International Economic Exchanges.

"The trade volume among China and other Belt and Road (B&R) countries surpassed 6 trillion U.S. dollars from 2013 to 2018, and the annual growth rate is faster than that of China's overall foreign trade. The trade volume between China and other B&R countries accounted for 27.4 percent of China's total trade in goods in 2018, compared to 25 percent in 2013. China has become the biggest trading partner of 25 Belt and Road countries."

The report shows China's direct investment in Belt and Road countries surpassed 90 billion dollars in the 2013 to 2018 period.

It notes a number of infrastructure construction projects have already been completed through the BRI, which it suggests is boosting inter-connectivity.

The report says China tops the trade index among 41 countries surveyed, followed by Singapore and India.

It also argues that trade liberalization is being increased, while risks are declining.

Researcher Zhang Monan with China Center for International Economic Exchanges argues the Belt and Road has formed the second largest economic bloc in the world after only the EU.

"The trade volume among countries and regions along the Belt and Road is equivalent to 65 percent of the volume among EU members, but is much higher than that of the North American Free Trade Area (NAFTA). More and more countries and regions along the initiative are taking part in trade and investment, increasingly creating trade potential. The growth rate of cross-border capital flows contributed by the Belt and Road countries is also much faster than other parts of the world."

The report says BRI countries and regions contribute 31.6 percent of global cross-border capital flows, compared to 23 percent by NAFTA and 21.2 percent by the EU.

The report argues this has made countries along the Belt and Road the world's most important destination for foreign investment flows.

For CRI, I'm Xie Cheng.

中国国际经济交流中心编制了一份报告。

报告指出，“一带一路”倡议启动以来，相关国家间的贸易往来显著扩大。

张晓强是中国国际经济交流中心副理事长。

“2013年至2018年，中国与沿线国家的货物贸易总额超过6万亿美元，年均增长率高于同期中国外贸增速。由此，中国与沿线国家货物贸易额占比由2013年的25%提升到2018年的27.4%。中国已经成为25个‘一带一路’沿线国家最大的贸易伙伴。”

报告显示，2013年至2018年，中国对‘一带一路’沿线国家直接投资超过900亿美元。

报告指出，一大批基础设施项目竣工，跨境互联互通的水平逐步提升。

报告显示，在调查的41个国家中，中国的贸易总指数位居首位，紧随其后的是新加坡和印度。

报告中还提到，贸易自由化加快推进，贸易风险总体呈现下降趋势。

中国国际经济交流中心研究员张茉楠表示，“一带一路”成为仅次于欧盟的全球第二大经济板块。

“‘一带一路’倡议的（相关国家和地区）内部贸易（体量）相当于欧盟内部贸易65%，这个比例是远远超过北美自由贸易区内部贸易的体量。贸易潜力进一步被激发出来，贸易参与度也在增加。‘一带一路’国家在的跨境资本增速要远远高于其他地区。”

报告显示，‘一带一路’相关地区和国家在全球跨境资本流动的占比为31.6%，而北美自由贸易区和欧盟的占比分别为23%和欧盟21.2%。

这使“一带一路”沿线国家成为全球最重要的外国投资地。

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