Yang Andi proposes joint building of Ice and Snow Silk Road at national 'two sessions'

Yang Andi, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and head of the Jilin Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, proposed the joint building of the Ice and Snow Silk Road at the annual "two sessions" of the country's top legislature and political advisory body.

The Ice and Snow Silk Road, first proposed by Jilin in 2018, should go beyond Jilin and serve as a platform that is based in northeast China, has northeast Asia in view and can broaden cooperation and exchanges with countries along the Belt and Road, said Yang.  

The building of the Ice and Snow Silk Road, on the one hand, will help northeast China unleash its advantages in ice and snow resources, build a modern ice and snow economy, and inject a new innovative impetus to the rejuvenation of old industrial bases, and, on the other hand, help better tap the ice and snow culture, build stronger cultural confidence and support high-quality economic and social development, Yang pointed out.

Introducing Jilin's advantages and efforts in developing the ice and snow economy, Yang said that located at the geometric center of northeast Asia and the world's golden latitude zone for ice and snow resources, Jilin is one of the world's three major powder snow bases and a core area for northeast Asia's ice and snow resources.

Yang also added that Jilin has a profound history and culture in terms of ice and snow with a corridor through northeast Asia formed in the area featuring bustling trade and cultural communication in the Tang Dynasty.

Besides, Jilin has a solid foundation for developing the ice and snow industry and can provide experiences in developing an ice and snow industry with a systematic and whole-industry chain approach, Yang said.  

Since 2018, Jilin has been advancing research and practice of the Ice and Snow Silk Road at the same time and constantly enriched its connotation.

The Ice and Snow Silk Road will not only be a great corridor for economic and social development, but will also become a golden route for the world's ice and snow economy, Yang noted.

By building the Ice and Snow Silk Road, Jilin is carrying down the spirit of the Silk Road and integrating the development of China's ice and snow economy with that of the world.

Yang suggest the adoption of policies for the development of the Ice and Snow Silk Road and coordinate its development with the Belt and Road Initiative in the hope of coordination to promote further development and openness to stimulate innovation.  

She said that great efforts should be made to develop the core areas and major cities of the Ice and Snow Silk Road to help foster a new development paradigm with domestic circulation as the mainstay and domestic and international circulations reinforcing each other.

Work should focus on the building of domestic core areas including northeast China, the Beijing and Zhangjiakou area and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and gradually reach countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt as well as other countries and regions with abundant ice and snow resources, Yang suggest.

Meanwhile, Yang also suggest, a Cultural Belt should be built as part of the Ice and Snow Silk Road, to protect and sort through relevant cultural resources and develop cultural symbols. Platforms should be built for the Cultural Belt to give new vigor to ice and snow history and culture.

Besides, efforts should be intensified to display and promote the culture along the Ice and Snow Silk Road and strengthen relevant cultural brands, Yang added.

Yang also proposed the launch of an Ice and Snow Silk Road Forum to promote international exchanges in the fields of ice and snow culture, economy and sports.