Full coverage: 2016 NPC & CPPCC Sessions Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has put forward eight tasks for this year in his government work report. One is a new round of high-quality opening up. He said that begins with the Belt and Road Initiative, which links Asia and Europe.

"We will promote domestic regional development and opening up and international economic cooperation in a coordinated way, work with other countries and regions to build overland economic corridors and maritime cooperation hubs, and promote connectivity, economic and trade cooperation and cultural exchange,” Li said.

“We will work to develop cooperative mechanisms for achieving compatibility in customs clearance procedures along the routes and build international logistics networks.

"We will promote the development of border economic cooperation zones, cross-border economic cooperation zones, and overseas economic and trade cooperation zones.

“With a commitment to achieving common development and shared growth through joint consultation, we will ensure that the Belt and Road Initiative creates bonds of peace, friendship and common prosperity.”