China and countries along the China-proposed Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road are actively planning the construction of six economic corridors, Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli said during a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Industry Dialogue on Connectivity on Wednesday in Chongqing, Southwest China. The six corridors are namely Eurasia Land Bridge, China-Mongolia-Russia, China-Central Asia-West Asia, China-Indo-China Peninsula, China-Pakistan, and Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar.
Zhang said connectivity is the trend of the times and the common need of every country in the world. As a member of the Asia-Europe family, China's development is closely connected with the entire development of Asia and Europe, he said. The Belt and Road Initiative, which focuses on trade and infrastructure networks, has been warmly welcomed by related countries.
The construction of the six economic corridors is expected to be the major framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Silk Road Fund will provide financial support for the corridors, which will effectively improve trade and logistics among Asian and European countries, benefiting all the parties involved.