A HOST of cooperation deals involving investments of 158.3 billion yuan (US$24.6 billion) were signed at the Fifth Silk Road International Exposition, which closed Saturday in Xi’an, capital of Northwest China’s Shaanxi Province.

The deals cover 72 key projects in fields including education, modern agriculture and high-tech industry.

The five-day expo attracted more than 1,900 envoys and guests from 98 countries and regions such as Slovakia, Belgium, South Korea, Tajikistan and Zambia.

Participants at the expo said that with the COVID-19 pandemic still raging across the globe, the enthusiasm of the international community in jointly promoting high-quality Belt and Road cooperation is tantamount to a resounding vote of confidence in the program.

The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by China in 2013, aims to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and beyond along the ancient Silk Road trade routes for common development and prosperity.(Xinhua)