Qamchiq Tunnel: In June, President Xi Jinping attended a ceremony in Uzbekistan to mark trial operations of the longest railway tunnel (19.2 km) in Central Asia.[Photo/Xinhua]

Belt and Road Initiative milestones

September 2013: On a visit to Kazakhstan, President Xi Jinping proposes building the Silk Road Economic Belt to boost regional cooperation.

October 2013: Xi puts forward a proposal to jointly establish the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road during his speech at the APEC leaders' meeting in Indonesia.

December 2013: During the annual Central Economic Conference in Beijing, Xi urges the formulation of strategic plans for the Belt and Road Initiative to speed up the process.

November 2014: Xi tells the APEC leaders' meeting that China will offer $40 billion to establish the Silk Road Fund to provide financial support for the Belt and Road Initiative.

December 2016: The Foreign Ministry announces that more than 40 countries and organizations have signed agreements with China to cooperate on the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative.