China has established 75 overseas economic and trade cooperation zones in 35 countries and regions along the routes, creating 950,000 jobs over the past four years, Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng told a news conference in Beijing in February.

What is the Belt and Road Initiative?

Belt and Road Initiative

The Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiatives were proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2013.

The Silk Road Economic Belt focuses on bringing together China, Central Asia, Russia and Europe (the Baltic); linking China with the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea through Central Asia and West Asia; and connecting China with Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Indian Ocean.

The 21st Century Maritime Silk Road is designed to go from China's coast to Europe through the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean in one direction, and from China's coast through the South China Sea to the South Pacific in the other.

Vision and Actions

On Mar 28, 2015, three ministries including the National Development and Reform Commission published the Vision and Actions on Jointly Building the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.