Chinese forum pushes for Silk Road economic belt

Three key steps need to be taken to build the Silk Road Economic Belt as well as the Maritime Silk Road by the year 2049, according to a report published here on the side-lines of a forum.
The report was released at the Silk Road Economic Belt Media Cooperation Forum held by the People's Daily, with the aim of pushing forward economic and urban development of countries along the route of the economic belt.
The economic belt could be implemented in three strategic steps - a packaging strategy from now until 2016, a planning period from 2016 to 2021, then a period of application from 2021 to 2049, the report said.
The report said countries along the Silk Road represent 55% of the global GDP. This route is home to 70% of the global population and has 75% of world's energy reserves.
Around 100 representatives from 11 countries discussed here media cooperation among countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt.
Officials, diplomats and media representatives from China, Russia, India, Iran and some central Asian countries are attending the Silk Road Economic Belt Media Cooperation Forum, Xinhua reported.
China is willing to strengthen media co-operation with relevant countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt, said Li Haifeng, vice chair of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, while delivering a keynote speech Wednesday.
There was consensus among the attendees that the strategic decision to develop Silk Road Economic Belt is a great chance for cooperation and communication.