Lou Qinjian, governor of Shaanxi Province, delivers a speech during a press conference for “Journey along the Silk Road” on May 21, 2014. Photo: Liu Sha/GT

A worker stands in a plant at the Shaanxi Automobile Group on May 21, 2014. Photo: Liu Sha/GT

A semi truck, produced by Shaanxi Automobile Group, sells for about 220,000 yuan ($35,288). The trucks are built for export to the Central Asia. Photo: Liu Sha/GT

Shaanxi Province is to increase trade volume and enhance cooperation between Central Asian countries along the traditional trade route to the West as a part of building the Silk Road economic belt, said Lou Qinjian, governor of Shaanxi Province on Wednesday.

Building an economic belt along the Silk Road and a maritime Silk Road of the 21st century, a strategic concept to promote regional economic development, was proposed by President Xi Jinping in September 2013 during his tour of Kazakhstan.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also echoed Xi by saying China and Russia can work together to promote the development of the Silk Road economic belt during his trip to China.

Lou said that Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province, is the starting point of the traditional Silk Road and now it aims to become a new center connecting eastern and western China with Central Asian countries and Europe.

The western part of China, which has been lagging behind economically compared to the East, is expected to gain an opportunity to develop, Lou said.

Shaanxi has signed a series of agreements with Kazakhstan ranging from energy and agriculture to talent exchange, Lou said.

The Shaanxi branch of the State-owned China Power Investment Cooperation is discussing with Kazakhstan the export of Chinese technology and solar energy, he said.

Both Shaanxi and Alma-Ata are big apple producers and the two sides have cooperated to build an apple industry park in Alma-Ata this year signifying the friendship of two sides.

On top of Kazakhstan, Shaanxi is also promoting cooperation with other countries including Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Shaanxi also invited more than 1,000 college students from Central Asian countries to study and it plans to invite more, Lou said.

Shaanxi Automobile Group said that half of its exported heavy trucks went to Central Asian countries and they were confident the concept of the Silk Road economic belt will help them open the Central Asia market.

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