The ambassadors of Pakistan, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Malta and Bosnia and Herzegovina to China were conferred Silk Road Super Ambassador Award in Beijing on January 24. Awards were also given to those who contributed to the Belt and Road initiative (BRI), including former Prime Minister of Italy Massimo D’Alema.

The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is regarded as the “flagship project” of the BRI. It covers wide areas, ranging from transportation to industrial zones. Pakistani Ambassador to China Masood Khalid told the Global Times before the award ceremony that Pakistan has benefited from the CPEC. “Our cooperation is very broad and is expanding, so we are happy. We are confident that as we move forward, we will see more tangible progress in our cooperation, “he said.

Maldives is one of the first countries to join the BRI. Ambassador of Maldives to China Mohamed Faisal told the Global Times before the ceremony that in the past four or five years, Maldives has received a lot of development assistance from China and in the future, “I have a very high expectation” of the BRI, the ambassador said.

“Silk Road Super Ambassador” Award Ceremony was organized by Silk Road Cities Alliance, Silk Road City Institute and Beijing Belt& Road Cooperative Community.