XI'AN -- A Silk Road expo opened on Friday in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, the eastern end of the ancient network of Trans-Asian trade routes.

The Silk Road International Exposition, or the 20th Investment and Trade Forum for Cooperation between East and West China, has attracted more than 12,000 officials and businessmen from 37 countries and regions, and delegations from 27 Chinese provinces, to discuss the economic belt and promote common development.

"As the start of the ancient Silk Road, and the center of China, Shaanxi Province is important for the Belt and Road initiative," said Lou Qinjian, chief of the Shaanxi provincial committee of the Communist Party of China.

"We are trying to make the expo a bridge to introduce more foreign companies to Chinese market," Lou said.

More than 20 subjects including customs, tourism, and business cooperation will be discussed.