Policy Timeline

This timeline compiles a selection of accessible policy documents and official materials related to China’s Belt and Road science, technology, and innovation cooperation. While not exhaustive, these policies are organized into six thematic categories and arranged chronologically within each category.

1. Agenda-Setting and Political Frameworks

Date	Policy document
2013	President Xi Jinping proposed the initiative of jointly building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road
2015-03	Joining Hands to Build a Silk Road Economic Belt and a 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road – Vision and Actions
2017-05	The Chinese government proposes to launch the Belt and Road Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation Action Plan, including the Science and Technology People-to-People Exchange Initiative, the Joint Laboratory Initiative, the Science Park Cooperation Initiative and the Technology Transfer Initiative
2023-10-18	Global AI Governance Initiative
2023-11-24	Vision and Actions for High-Quality Belt and Road Cooperation: Brighter Prospects for the Next Decade

2. Science Cooperation Plans and Core Policy Instruments

Date	Policy document
2016-06-12	Initiative to Establish the Belt and Road Technology Transfer Cooperation Network
2016-09	Special Plan on Advancing Cooperation of Science and Technology Innovation in the Belt and Road Construction
2017-05-04	Thirteenth Five-Year Special Plan for International Cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation
2018-03-14	China’s State Council has issued a set of guidelines to encourage the launch of more international “big science” projects
2018-11-04	The Alliance of National and International Science Organizations for the Belt and Road Regions (ANSO) was established in Beijing
2023-11-06	Specific cooperation plans have been launched in key areas including sustainable development technology, space information science and technology, innovation and entrepreneurship, poverty reduction.
2023-11-07	International Science and Technology Cooperation Initiative
2025-06-12	Joint Action Initiative on Science and Technology Park Cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative

3. Operational, Administrative, and Project Implementation Documents

Date	Policy document
2013	Launch of the Talented Young Scientist Program for Developing Countries
2016-10-20	Administrative Measures for Technical Training Courses for Developing Countries
2025	List of Sustainable Development Technologies for Belt and Road Countries (2025)
2025-01-17	Procedures to File a Request to the CNIPA (China NationalIntellectual Property Administration) under the BRIPC PilotProgram for Accelerated Patent Examination
2025-04-01	Call for Sustainable Development Technologies for Belt and Road Countries
2025-09	2025 Application Guidelines for Belt and Road Projects on Science and Technology for Poverty Reduction, Artificial Intelligence, and Traditional Chinese Medicine

4. Sectoral Implementation by Government Departments

Date	Policy document
2015-10-22	Action Plan for Standards Connectivity under the Belt and Road Initiative, 2015–2017
2016-07	Education Action Plan for the Belt and Road Initiative
2016-12-26	Development Plan for Traditional Chinese Medicine under the Belt and Road Initiative, 2016–2020
2017-03	Ministry of Culture’s Action Plan for Cultural Development under the Belt and Road Initiative, 2016–2020
2017-04-06	Notice on the Nationwide Implementation of the Work Permit System for Foreigners in China
2017-04-13	National Science and Technology Talent Development Plan for the Thirteenth Five-Year Plan Period
2017-04-26	Guidance on Promoting the Green Belt and Road
2017-05	Vision and Actions on Jointly Promoting Agricultural Cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative
2017-05	Vision and Actions on Energy Cooperation in Jointly Building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road
2017-05-14	Action Plan for Chinese Social Organizations to Promote People-to-People Connectivity under the Belt and Road Initiative, 2017–2020
2017-05-14	Belt and Road Ecological and Environmental Cooperation Plan
2017-05-14	Guiding Principles on Financing the Development of the Belt and Road
2017-06-01	Cybersecurity Law of the People’s Republic of China
2017-06-20	Vision for Maritime Cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative
2017-09-26	Plan for Building a National Technology Transfer System
2017-12-20	Guidance on Advancing Postal Services in Support of the Belt and Road Initiative
2018-01	China’s Arctic Policy
2018-01-11	Action Plan for Standards Connectivity under the Belt and Road Initiative, 2018–2020
2018-11-05	Implementation Opinions on Standardization in Industry and Information Technology in Support of the Belt and Road Initiative
2018-11-12	Action Plan for Higher Education Institutions to Support the Belt and Road Initiative through Science and Technology Innovation
2021-10-20	Opinions on Further Strengthening Biodiversity Conservation
2021-10-24	Action Plan for Carbon Dioxide Peaking Before 2030
2021-12-30	National Emergency Response System Plan for the Fourteenth Five-Year Plan Period
2021-12-31	Development Plan for the High-Quality Integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine into the Belt and Road Initiative, 2021–2025
2022-01-30	Opinions on Improving the Institutions, Mechanisms, and Policy Measures for a Green and Low-Carbon Energy Transition
2022-03-16	Opinions on Promoting Green Development under the Belt and Road Initiative
2025-05-13	Policy Measures to Accelerate the Development of a Science and Technology Finance System in Support of High-Level Self-Reliance and Strength
2025-08-14	Decision of the State Council to Amend the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on the Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners

5. International and Regional Cooperation Documents

Date	Policy document
2017-05-15	Outcome Documents of the Leaders’ Roundtable of the First Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation
2019-04-27	Joint Communiqué of the Leaders’ Roundtable of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation
2019-11-01	Joint Communiqué of the Eighteenth Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
2019-11-14	Brasília Declaration of the Eleventh BRICS Summit
2020-03-27	Extraordinary G20 Leaders’ Summit Statement on COVID-19
2021-11-30	Dakar Declaration of the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation
2022-09-16	Samarkand Declaration of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
2023-08-24	Johannesburg II Declaration of the Fifteenth BRICS Summit
2023-09-06	List of Cooperation Initiatives of the East Asia Summit and Related Leaders’ Meetings
2023-10-18	Beijing Initiative on Deepening Connectivity Cooperation
2023-10-18	Framework Initiative for International Economic and Trade Cooperation on the Digital Economy and Green Development
2023-10-18	Belt and Road Blue Cooperation Initiative
2023-12-25	Nay Pyi Taw Declaration of the Fourth Lancang–Mekong Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting
2023-12-25	Five-Year Plan of Action on Lancang–Mekong Cooperation, 2023–2027
2024-09-05	Beijing Declaration on Jointly Building an All-Weather China–Africa Community with a Shared Future for the New Era
2024-09-05	Forum on China–Africa Cooperation Beijing Action Plan, 2025–2027
2024-12-01	Joint Statement of the Fifth China–Central Asia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
2025-05-13	Joint Action Plan for Cooperation in Key Areas between China and CELAC Member States, 2025–2027
2025-05-27	Joint Statement of the ASEAN–China–GCC Summit
2025-05-28	China’s Initiative to Deepen Cooperation with Pacific Island Countries on Climate Change
2025-06-17	Astana Declaration of the Second China–Central Asia Summit
2025-07-07	Rio de Janeiro Declaration of the Seventeenth BRICS Summit
2025-07-11	Beijing Declaration of the Global Civilization Dialogue Ministerial Meeting
2025-07-11	List of Action Plans of the Ministerial Meeting of the Global Civilization Dialogue
2025-09-01	Tianjin Declaration of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
2025-09-01	Statement of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation on Further Strengthening in Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation
2025-11-18	Joint Communiqué of the Twenty-Fourth Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
2026-07-17	Chair’s Statement of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance
2026-07-17	Action Plan for Global AI Cooperation and Development
2026-07-23	2026 APEC Digital and AI Ministerial Statement: Chengdu Statement

6. Outcome Reporting, Policy Explanation, and Agenda Renewal

Date	Policy document
2019-04-22	The Belt and Road Initiative: Progress, Contributions and Prospects
2023-10-10	The Belt and Road Initiative: A Key Pillar of the Global Community of Shared Future
2023-10-18	Outcome Materials of the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation
2023-11-06	Outcomes of the First Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange
2023-11-06	Innovation Silk Road Development Report
2024-09-22	Deepening Belt and Road Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation
2024-10-15	Eight Actions Lay a Solid Foundation for the New Decade of Belt and Road Cooperation — Knowledge Card: Belt and Road Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation Action Plan
2025-06-10	Outcomes of the Second Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange