Lan Pingyong explains the construction and business operation of his offshore fishery complex in Mauritania via video at his office on February 26, 2021(XINHUA) 

"Having been in the fishery sector for more than two decades, I have witnessed the development of the Belt and Road Initiative and become one of its beneficiaries," said Lan Yongping, a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, while attending its first session on March 5. Lan is also the founder of China's leading offshore fishery company, Hongdong Fishery Co. Ltd. 

In the decade since the Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to promote connectivity along and beyond the ancient Silk Road routes, was proposed in 2013, China has signed cooperation agreements with over 150 countries and 30 international organizations, offering participants opportunities to promote their economic growth, create new jobs and improve their people's living standards. 

Explaining how he has benefited from the initiative, Lan recalled his experience. In 2009, as an entrepreneur in the fishery industry, he began to seek overseas expansion. After extensive research, he decided to do business in Mauritania, an African country covered by deserts and blessed with abundant marine resources but lacking infrastructure.  

He started to build a large modern fishing base in the country. The base was designed to feature not only docks, a fishing fleet, refrigerated warehouses, and processing workshops, but also a shipyard and a water desalination plant and other supporting facilities.  

Such a complex project cost a large amount of money. After the completion of the first phase, Lan faced a fund shortage. Fortunately, the Belt and Road Initiative had been launched in the country. Under the initiative, China Export and Credit Insurance Corporation extended a helping hand, securing funding for the Lan's company.  

The fishery base was completed with a total investment of $300 million. The complex has employed over 2,000 locals, significantly increasing their incomes. "It is the value of the initiative's inclusiveness and win-win solutions that convinced the government that its people would be better off under the initiative," Lan said. 

In recent years, Hongdong Fishery has also expanded its operations to several other areas of the world, buoyed by the Belt and Road Initiative. "I started my business with only two boats. Now we have presence in Africa, South America and the Middle East, with 170 ships shuttling across the Pacific and the Atlantic," he said. 

The Belt and Road Initiative has also enhanced connections between Lan's home province of Fujian and other parts of the world. The coastal province, a cradle of the ancient Maritime Silk Road, is now an important hub of modern marine transportation. "It has connections with more than 270 Belt and Road countries, and its trade volume with these nations rose by 13.8 percent in 2022 alone. The government work report this year emphasized the continued implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative by building high-quality connections. This is of strategic importance to Fujian Province," Lan said. 

As an NPC deputy, Lan participated in the review of the government work report during this year's legislative session that convened from March 5 to 13. The duties of a deputy include gathering public opinion and regularly carrying out research in the areas he or she represents. 

Speaking of his suggestions, Lan said, "We need to improve platforms that provide legal and market-oriented services to Chinese companies looking to expand overseas. We also need to increase the financial backing given to these companies and encourage more leading companies to expand internationally." 

Copyedited by G.P. Wilson 

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