China's western region of Xinjiang is hosting an event to discuss business with Eurasian countries. A three-day summit this weekend has attracted people from 35 countries, interested in expanding trade. CGTN's Liu Yang has more.

Distinguished guests and business representatives from 35 countries attended the opening ceremony of the 6th China-Eurasia Expo.

Speaking at the opening ceremony were: Chinese Vice Premier of the State Council, Hu Chunhua, President of the Upper House of Afghanistan, Fazal Hadi Muslimyar and, Vice Prime Minister of Georgia, Maya Tskitishvili.

They emphasized the importance of the Belt & Road Initiative, free trade, and strengthening connections with Eurasia.

LIU YANG XINJIANG "From agricultural products to high-tech equipment, this time the commodity and trade zone features 11 exhibition themes. In 2017, China's imports from Belt and Road Initiative countries rose 27 percent, and its trade with those nations topped 1 trillion US dollars, an increase of nearly 18 percent year on year."

Dazzling jewelries, tasty wines, exotic carpets. The expo has attracted business representatives and guests from 35 countries. It has been running for 19 years, previously called the Urumqi Foreign Economic Relations and Trade Fair. It served as a vital platform for diplomacy between China and Eurasian countries and a key engine for advancing Xinjiang as the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt.

TEYMUR NADIR OGHLU, TRADE REPRESENTATIVE EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN IN CHINA "From the past 5 years, what we gained is that AZ companies have turned their face from west to east toward China, now they get to know Chinese market and consumer better. That is the reason we are trying to participate in different exhibitions to show our product in China."

YEERJIANG, BUSINESS REP. RUSSIA "Through the Belt & Road Initiative (expo), businesspeople from Russia and other countries have a convenient way to show products in China, and to learn about products from other countries. Today, in less than 2 hours, I have talked to many people who are interested in my products."

In the first quarter of this year, China's imports and exports of goods with Belt & Road countries reached 605 billion US dollars, up 18 percent year-on-year. Chinese companies have invested more than 7 billion US dollars in countries involved in the Belt & Road.

ILYAS SIDIQJ, LIAISON OFFICER AFGHAN MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE "It is a big opportunities for both sides, because a few years ago, it was not much opportunities, they had to face lots of difficulties to get to China, but now relationship between China and Afghanistan have come to the good point. Now by building railway lines, silk road, they can get here easily, now this is a good opportunity, now the trade has grown up to 70 percent."

The expo is a crucial channel for pushing cooperation between Xinjiang and surrounding countries, and boosting development of China's western regions. Liu Yang, CGTN Xinjiang.