China has planned to make its southeast Fujian province the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road, a strategic initiative to improve connectivity and trade among Asian nations through sea-route.
Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli urged acceleration of the opening-up of southeast Fujian Province, the starting point of the historic Maritime Silk Road (MSR). Beijing wants to revive the MSR through which its merchants traded silk, ceramics and tea to overseas markets about 2,000 years ago.China has also invited India to join the initiative. India, however, sought more details about the road. Fujian is located along the Taiwan straits. Zhang said the local authorities should strengthen economic ties with countries and regions along the maritime trade route and boost two-way investment.
More efforts should be made to improve infrastructure in the coastal province, such as ports and railways, in a bid to connect overseas market with China’s inland regions, he said.China has been trying to revive the ancient route to promote economic cooperation since last October when President Xi Jinping firstly proposed a 21st century MSR during a visit to Indonesia.