China sets up leading team on Belt and Road initiative

The Chinese central government has set up a special leading group to oversee the implementation of the Belt and Road initiatives, the office of the group said.

The group issued a statement on Sunday following the release of the principles, framework, priorities and mechanism for the China-led Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road initiatives.

The statement said the leading group will be in charge of guiding and coordinating work related to the initiative. But it did not specify its members.

The central authorities traditionally set up leading groups dedicated to major development and reform issues.

"Construction of the belt and road is a huge and systematic job [...] that calls for strengthened leadership and coordination of domestic and foreign affairs," the statement said.

The office of the group is under the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China's top economic planner.

China will collaborate with partner countries to carry out research, forums and fairs, personnel training, exchanges and visits under the framework of existing bilateral, multilateral, regional and sub-regional cooperation mechanisms, so that they gain a better understanding of the initiative, said the statement.

Countries involved will work together to substantiate and improve cooperation, work out relevant timetables and roadmaps, and align national development programs and regional cooperation plans, it said.

The statement also said China will work with countries to steadily advance demonstration projects, jointly identify programs that accommodate bilateral and multilateral interests, and accelerate programs.

The initiatives were proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2013 with visions to connect Asian, European and African countries more closely and promote mutually beneficial cooperation.