Leung Chun-ying, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), led a team to South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region from May 13 to 17, to survey the participation of overseas Chinese nationals in "small yet smart" projects under the Belt and Road Initiative. The trip was also a supervision survey on the implementation of the key proposal on supporting "small yet smart" projects in Belt and Road countries to promote people-to-people connectivity.

The team visited the cities of Nanning, Fangchenggang, Qinzhou, and Beihai to gain detailed insights into local efforts in participating in people's livelihoods projects, and held meetings to gain more information and exchange views with relevant parties.

The team noted that over the past decade, the Belt and Road cooperation has achieved historic accomplishments, with a large number of "small yet smart" livelihood projects taking root in Belt and Road countries.

At the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held last October, China announced eight major steps to support high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, specifying that the country would coordinately advance both signature projects and "small yet smart" programs through practical cooperation.

Guangxi, as China's frontier and window for opening up to and cooperation with ASEAN, as well as a major traditional hometown of overseas Chinese nationals, boasts successful practices and experiences in carrying out "small yet smart" livelihood projects in Belt and Road countries, the team pointed out.

The team called for thoroughly implementing the central leadership's instructions, and better tapping the role of overseas Chinese nationals to do a good job in materializing those projects. More efforts are needed in publicity work, particularly in introducing China and telling China's stories in ways that resonate with the people of Belt and Road countries, the team added.

The team will hold a symposium on this topic upon returning to Beijing.