South Asia important partner

Xi Jinping makes a speech at the Pakistani Parliament in Islamabad on April 21, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

"The initiative of building the Belt and Road Initiative is a significant move to fully open up itself under the new conditions," Xi said during a speech at the Pakistani Parliament in April, 2015.

"South Asia is where the land and maritime Silk Roads meet. It is therefore a focal area and important cooperation partner for advancing the initiative. Good progress has been made in building the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor which are closely connected with the land and maritime Silk Roads," he said.