Xi's statements on the Belt and Road Initiative

Call to build a new 'maritime silk road'

President Xi Jinping delivers a speech to Indonesian lawmakers at the House of Representatives of Indonesia in Jakarta, capital of Indonesia, Oct 3, 2013. [Photo/Xinhua]

In a speech to the Indonesian parliament in 2013, Xi said that in order to build the new "maritime silk road", China will strengthen maritime cooperation with ASEAN countries "to make good use of the China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation Fund set up by the Chinese government".

During the speech, Xi underscored the "shared destiny" of China and ASEAN members, saying that China was ready to open itself wider to ASEAN countries and enable ASEAN countries to benefit more from China's development.