At the recent 2015 Lanzhou International Cross-Border E-Commerce Logistics Convention, in the city of Lanzhou, Gansu province, on Sept 8, the local government and companies signed agreements worth 18.08 billion yuan ($2.83 billion) in all.

The agreements involved five cross-border e-commerce projects, four logistics projects and three projects related to China's Belt and Road program.

The contracts cover a Lanzhou Cross-Border E-Commerce Public Service site, Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport Logistics Park, Silk Road E-Commerce Industrial Park and Lanzhou Intelligent Express Box.

Lanzhou government and companies sign agreements at the 2015 Lanzhou International Cross-Border E-Commerce Logistics Convention, in the city of Lanzhou, Gansu province, on Sept 8.[Photo/xinhuanet.com]

 Members of the city’s New Area management and its commercial bureau were on hand for the signing ceremony, where the executive vice-mayor, Yu Jingdong, remarked that these new contracts will play a significant role in promoting its e-commerce and logistics and cooperation with cities along China’s Belt and Road project.

The Belt and Road Initiative covers the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Gansu is a land-locked province that sits astride the Silk Road, which linked North China and Central and West Asia in the past.

Edited by Roger Bradshaw