BEIJING — China’s aviation industry has expanded its cooperation platform to facilitate connectivity along the Belt and Road, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said on Aug 10.

China has so far signed bilateral intergovernmental air transportation agreements with 125 countries and regions, 62 of them along the Belt and Road, Zhang Qing, a senior official of CAAC, told a press briefing.

China has launched direct air routes with 45 countries along the Belt and Road with about 5,100 flights every week, Zhang said.

The CAAC will continue to support connectivity along the Belt and Road and bridge economic, trade and cultural ties among Belt and Road countries, she said.

Proposed by China in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along and beyond ancient Silk Road trade routes, with industrial cooperation a crucial part.