Prof. Li Ruohong, president of China World Peace Foundation (CWPF), Dr. Ali Moussa lye, Chief of History and Memory for Dialogue Section of UNESCO, and Annick Thebia Mels held friendly talks with Mr. Frances Colomer, representative of the Valencia regional government, Mr. Jose Maria Chiquillo, president of the International Network of the UNESCO Silk Roads Online Platform and Mr. Vicente GENOVES, president of the Valencia High Silk Art College on cooperation between the Valencia regional government and related Chinese provinces and cities regarding multiple areas of the Belt and Road.

Dr. Ali Moussa lye said that the growing role of cities and provinces in today’s context of globalization is the necessary complement for citizenship proximity and national strategies. The UNESCO Interactive Atlas of Cultural Interactions along the Silk Roads can offer to Spanish and Chinese societies a fruitful participative framework. The connection between East and West through cooperation of regional and municipal communities is crucial in facilitating the sharing of local historical heritage and contemporary challenges based on a long-lasting legacy of exchanges. Prof. Li Ruohong said that after President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Spain, the communication and cooperation between the governments and people from both countries has stepped into a new stage. There is large potential in establishing an efficient and fruitful partnership evolving the common Silk Roads between the Valencia regional government and provinces and cities in China. This partnership can also play a significant role in promoting innovation and development.

The Valencia regional government expressed their will of establishing a long-term cooperative relation with Chinese provinces and cities recommended by the China World Peace Foundation. Representatives present at the meeting planned to hold an annual event based on the win-win partnership between China and Spain and expand the cooperation to the international level through the multilateral project “Interactive Atlas of Cultural Interactions along the Silk Roads”. The cooperation mainly covers four areas: 1. Establish cooperative relations between mainstream media from China and Spain and initiate the first international Silk Roads awards, including awards on heritage, innovation, specific creations or activities; 2. Organization of Two-fold exhibition dealing with the historical heritage and the contemporaneous innovation along the Silk Roads, in connection with the SILK AWARDS EXPO topics and the awarded individuals or entities; 3. Organization of roundtables on relevant issues related to the challenges and urgencies of the SR in the context of globalization; 4. Organization of a set of B to B (Business to Business) meetings to promote economic sustainable development and win-win activities. The representatives also conducted in-depth discussions on bilateral cooperative topics on culture and economy.