The 2014 China Economic and Social Forum opens in Kunming on Oct 10 to promote the Silk Road’s influence and western development. The forum is organized by the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Yunnan Committee and the China Economic and Social Council, Yunnan Daily reported.

The forum is themed around the construction of “one belt, on road” and based on the development of the national economy. The “one belt, one road” strategy, refers to plans to revitalize the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road raised by Chinese authorities.

The forum aims to demonstrate the South Silk Road’s historical contribution and development potential. Promoting central and western development and deepening openness in coastal areas are sub-topics of the forum.

More than 10 specialists and scholars, including Lin Yifu, a Chinese economist and former chief economist and senior vice-president of the World Bank, are invited to share their thoughts in the forum.

Yunnan hopes that the “one belt, one road” strategy and the South Silk Road economic belt will get more attention. Also, Yunnan hopes to find its strategic positioning and advantages in China’s “one belt, one road” strategy with the help of the specialists and scholars.

By Ge Jieru and edited by Michael Thai