West China seeks fortune on modern Silk Road

Mutual benefit,long-term potential

The Belt and Road Initiative and the reinvigoration of Silk Road are not only welcome news for China, they hold enormous promise for countries along the route.

Temir Assanov, a managing director at Kazakhstan's JSC Astana Innovations, a state-owned company that coordinates innovation in Astana, told Xinhua that he came to Xi'an with over 60 projects seeking cooperation.

These projects include schools, hospitals and ski resorts, he said.

"Thanks to Kazakhstan's zero-tax policy for these projects and other conveniences like visas, my proposals have been well received. Several companies have expressed interest," he said. A former student of Peking University, Assanov speaks fluent Chinese.

Marat Sharshekeev, president of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Kyrgyzstan, said he was impressed by the opportunities in Xi'an and would "encourage Kyrgyzstan companies to participate in the Silk Road Expo regularly."

More and more young people of Belt and Road countries are studying in China. In 2014, students from Kazakhstan in China reached around 12,000.

"These students can be cultural envoys and will bring our countries closer," Assanov said.