A two-day international seminar on beefing up maritime trade infrastructure in Asia opened on Wednesday in Quanzhou, Fujian province.

More than 280 academics and experts from 30 countries will hold three round-table meetings covering the significance of the new Maritime Silk Road, working together for common prosperity and seizing development opportunities.

Liu Qibao, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Party's Publicity Department, said other countries are welcome to join in building the Silk Road and share the fruits of China's development.

You Quan, secretary of the Fujian Provincial Party Committee, said Fujian has always been a pioneer of reform and opening-up and a close trading partner of countries in Southeast Asia.

"As the core area in constructing the modern Maritime Silk Road, Fujian stands ready to increase maritime connectivity, promote multiple trades and transactions, advance maritime cooperation and make contributions to the Silk Road," You said in a keynote speech.

In 2013, President Xi Jinping proposed the modernization of the ancient Silk Road trading network in order to benefit the Asian region.

Jiang Jianguo, director of the State Council Information Office, said in his welcoming address that the attention given by the media and think tanks to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the Maritime Silk Road reflects the attractiveness of the initiative to countries along the route.

The media plays an irreplaceable role in promoting mutual understanding and friendship among countries, said Cai Mingzhao, president of Xinhua News Agency, adding that the agency will increase its coverage of the Maritime Silk Road initiative and provide tailored news products on the subject.

The seminar is hosted by the State Council Information Office and co-organized by Xinhua News Agency, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the China International Publishing Group and the Fujian Provincial Academy of Social Sciences.