A Chinese official has called for relevant countries to carry out pragmatic cooperation and add impetus to Belt and Road Initiative.

At the opening ceremony of the two-day “Silk Road International Forum 2016”, which ended on June 21, Li Wei, President of the Development Research Center of the State Council, China’s cabinet, hoped the forum could promote awareness and understanding of the initiative and enhance friendship among participating countries.

The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by China in 2013, refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt that links China with Europe through Central and Western Asia by inland routes, and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road connecting China with other Asian countries, Africa and Europe by sea routes. It is a development strategy and framework that focuses on inter-connectivity and cooperation among countries primarily in Eurasia.

At the forum, vice minister of Poland’s Ministry of Economic Development Radoslaw Domagalski expressed his support to further Poland-China cooperation.

He hoped Poland could become China’s most important partner in Central and Eastern Europe and cooperate with China in energy, infrastructure projects.

Participants at the forum also discussed new mechanisms of financing, sustainable development, and the impact of the Belt and Road Initiative on the development of the regions involved.

A total of 13 international organizations, 34 think tanks from 33 countries and more than 100 entrepreneurs attended the forum.