The Zhengzhou-Luxembourg Air Silk Road Forum for International Cooperation, themed “expanding and strengthening the China-Luxembourg Air Silk Road for Air Freight Routes”, was held in Zhengzhou, He’nan Province and online on November 16. He Lifeng, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), and Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister of Luxembourg, addressed the opening ceremony via video. Lyu Erxue, Deputy Administrator of CAAC, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech virtually.

Lyu pointed out that the Forum is of high relevance as 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Luxembourg and the 5th anniversary of the “Air Silk Road” Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping. Since the “Air Silk Road” Initiative was proposed five years ago, China and Luxembourg have launched the Zhengzhou-Luxembourg international freight route and created the Zhengzhou-Luxembourg dual hub cooperation model, initiating the exploration and practice of the development of the Air Silk Road. Lyu added that China looks forward to deepening cooperation with B&R partner countries in pushing the "hard connectivity" of infrastructure to a new high, making new breakthroughs in the "soft connectivity" of rules and standards, and achieving new progress in people-to-people bond so as to build a safe, reliable, convenient, efficient, green, intensive, mutually beneficial and inclusive Air Silk Road, providing new momentum and making new contributions to the prosperity and development of the world and a human community with a shared future.

At the opening ceremony, Hubsch Marc Pierre, Luxembourg Ambassador to China, read out a congratulatory letter from the Deputy Prime Minister of Luxembourg Fran?ois Bausch. Chief of Development Planning Department of CAAC interpreted the Implementation Plan for Promoting High-Quality Development of the Air Silk Road During the 14th Five-Year Plan Period.

The Forum was jointly organized by the NDRC, CAAC, the Ministry of Mobility and Public Works of Luxembourg, and the People's Government of He’nan Province. It was divided into panels such as the business leaders summit on air freight, the forum for international air cargo hub, and the forum for development of aviation economy. More than 500 guests attended the Forum in Zhengzhou or joined the meeting online.