'Belt and Road' takes new route

South Pacific finds its place on official TV demonstration map of trade, investment plan

China's efforts to map new directions for its trade and investment and enhance its global standing got a further boost on Monday after the government included the South Pacific in the latest official route demonstration map of the "Belt and Road Initiative".

The map, released by China's national television CCTV, shows the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road starting from Chinese coastal ports and running through the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean and then Europe. The south line of the Maritime Silk Road extends eastward to the South Pacific.