Chinese companies, though still only on a small scale, are starting to invest in media, soccer clubs, and entertainment companies in the Czech Republic, which, according to Czech politicians, will help the country catch the development train with China.

Apart from the business ideas, the Czech Republic has also mobilized a lot of resources to facilitate coordination. The country's government has set up a special working team, which includes six vice-ministers, to deal with matters related to China. The team reports directly to the Czech president and prime minister.

A think tank specializing in the Belt and Road Initiative research has also been set up to offer suggestions and advice to top decision-makers in the Czech Republic. These moves are encouraging signs, as they show how some countries are taking concerted actions on multi-fronts to promote the Belt and Road Initiative.

Efforts are also on in the Czech Republic to connect minds. On my final day in the country, I interviewed a prolific middle-aged Czech translator Zuzana Li, over lunch. She said China-Czech cooperation is not only about business and trade, as she has translated 10 books of modern and contemporary Chinese fiction and poetry into the Czech language. She has also started offering online materials to secondary school teachers in a bid to introduce Chinese literature to Czechs, which she says could be another window on China.

Li's idea reminded me of a saying by Lu Xun: basically there is no road in the world; a road takes shape because more people walk on it. The Belt and Road Initiative needs ideas and active contributions from people across the world, who are also expected to be as proactive as the Czechs to turn China's proposal into their own agenda.

This is how a road of common prosperity is built, and this is what a world caught in conflicts, wars, terrorism and economic turmoil badly needs.

The author is deputy editor of China Daily European Edition. [email protected]