China to host key conference on Silk Road Forum

BEIJING: China will host a major conference on the Silk Road initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping that aims to boost international trade and cooperation on infrastructure projects with Central, South and West Asian countries, the official media reported today.

During the 3-day Silk Road Economic Belt Cities Coopeartion and Development forum from July 23 in the Xinjian's regional capital of Urumqi, officials, academics and entrepreneurs from the cities will exchange development experience and explore cooperation in trade, industry, the Internet and infrastructure, according to the local government of Urumqi, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Besides the 55 cities from countries including Britain, Germany, Russia and Afghanistan, the forum will also attract representatives from foreign embassies and consulates, Chinese embassies and consulates overseas, NGOs and foreign commerce chambers, it said.

The ancient Silk Road was a 7,000-km-long pathway created by camel-driving merchants who carried China's silk and porcelain to Western Europe and spices to the Far East 2,000 years ago.

The land defined as the new Silk Road, covers 18 Asian And European countries with a population of about three billion people.

Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Silk Road Economic Belt in 2013 as an overland network focused on boosting international trade and cooperation on infrastructure projects with Central, South and West Asian countries.