Xi'an mayor has big ambitions for ancient city's future under BRI

Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province and starting point of the ancient Silk Road, plans to forge better transport connections and trade ties with countries in Central Asia and Europe, as China further opens up its vast and less developed western region through the Belt and Road Initiative, a senior city official told China Daily.

Li Mingyuan, mayor of Xi'an, said local authorities are poised to make the ancient capital a traffic hub - a convergence of air routes, roads and railways - to pioneer the opening up of the northwestern region.

The government will improve services within its newly created free trade zone, and expand its scope of businesses with Central Asian and East European partners in mind, a move that Li said will "offer the convenience and freedom to people craving to invest or do business" there.