Chinese President Xi Jinping said Friday that joint building of the Belt and Road has opened up new space for the world's economic growth.

Xi made the remarks in a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) in Beijing.

He said the joint building of the Belt and Road has also created a new platform to boost international trade and investment, expanded new practices to optimize global economic governance, and made new contributions to improving people's well-being in all countries. 

Xi said that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) aims to build a trade and infrastructure network.

Based on the principles of equality and mutual benefit, the BRI focuses on connectivity and practical cooperation to achieve win-win outcomes and common development.

The principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits should be upheld, Xi said, and open, green and clean approaches should be adhered to.

The goals of high-standard, livelihood-improving and sustainable development should be achieved, according to the Chinese president.

He added that China will keep promoting the construction of Belt and Road science and technology projects.

It will support 5,000 people from the innovation sector in Belt and Road countries in conducting exchanges, training programs and joint research over the next five years.

China will also negotiate and sign high-standard free trade agreements with more countries, Xi added.

Heads of state and government from 37 countries and other representatives from around the world are taking part in the three-day forum, which runs from April 25 to 27.

BRF is a top-level platform for international cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, which was initially proposed by Xi in 2013.