The initiative has been met with a strong response from the international community and particularly from countries along the Belt and Road, arousing enthusiasm and interest in many countries to explore and participate in the initiative.

At the seminar's opening ceremony, Liu Qibao, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, said that the seminar's theme "embodies our efforts to treasure historical legacy, our wishes for the common prosperity of countries along the routes and acknowledges our responsibility to world peace and development."

China has signed cooperative agreements with more than 30 countries and launched manufacturing and production capacity cooperation with more than 20 countries along the routes, said Liu.

"We should note that the outcomes in terms of speed and scale of the Belt and Road Initiative have been better than expected. Now, we have a clearer vision of the prospects of this initiative and are more confident in accomplishing it," he said.

A previous international seminar on the Silk Road Economic Belt was held in Urumqi in 2014.

Xi'an is the birthplace of Chinese civilization and also the starting point of the ancient Silk Road.

This year's seminar will feature panel sessions with members from think tanks, the media and businesses.

(China.org.cn September 26, 2016)