A press conference is held at Jilin University on Oct 24. [Photo provided to gojilin.gov.cn]

Jilin University – located in Changchun, capital of Northeast China's Jilin province – held a special press conference on Oct 24, introducing the university's recent achievements in research on the Belt and Road Initiative, or the BRI.

During the conference, Song Donglin, director of the China State-owned Economy Research Center at Jilin University and Zhao Xinyu, its deputy director, presented research reports.

These discussed various aspects of the BRI, including its economic development, trade and investment and the contributions and future prospects of State-owned enterprises.

Zhao answers a question during the press conference. [Photo provided to gojilin.gov.cn]

Zhao Xinyu noted that with the active participation of State-owned enterprises, the total cumulative bilateral investment between China and countries involved in BRI exceeded $270 billion from 2013 to 2022.

The accumulated value of newly signed contracts for construction projects and completed turnover reached over $1.2 trillion and $800 billion, respectively, during the period.

Chinese State-owned enterprises have continuously promoted cooperation and innovation in technology and management. By establishing industrial bases, for example, they've strengthened their capacity to work with partner countries.

Looking ahead, Zhao said he believed that Chinese State-owned enterprises should integrate their overseas development goals with the development plans of host countries, as well as actively assume social responsibilities – and promote open development and comprehensive local social progress, through a combination of professional management and localized operations.