Dominique de Villepin speaks on Launching of Dagong Global Infrastructure Credit Rating Methodology & Infrastructure Investment and Financing Forum. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Dominique de Villepin, former prime minister of France

The Belt and Road Initiative is a project for peace, it's a project for prosperity, it's also a project for innovation, both technological and environmental. So it's a very important project in the world. Because it's going to give us a perspective of better stability, and also it's a global project, not only political and economic, but also cultural. It will create bridges and links between states and people.

President Xi Jinping has given us a very important perspective. The ancient Silk Road was a key project 2,000 years ago. And it is still a key project today, which will bring hopes to many people in Asia, Middle East, Africa and Europe.