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The ancient Silk Road between China and Western Europe elevated exchanges along the areas it touched. Now there appears some hope to revive and modernize that ancient route. A new route could further strengthen ties and economic development in China, Central Asia and Europe.

According to Wim Westerhuis, senior representative of the International Road Federation (IRF), IRF envisages modern road links connecting the heart of China and the industrial centres of Western Europe.

"It is not simply a highway, but a network of roads facilitating trade between two major economic powerhouses, enhancing the development of land-locked Central Asia and making its markets more accessible", Westerhuis said.

This ambitious plan has caught the attention of 12 countries of the Silk Road region, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, China, Georgia, Iran, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Their ministers of communications discussed details of the plan during the Third International Silk Road Conference, held in Xi'an.

Xi'an was the starting point of the ancient Silk Road and is now the capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi Province. Co-sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Communication, IRF and the government of Shaanxi Province, the conference aimed to enhance regional communication cooperation and to build a new Silk Road transportation corridor, which makes it easier and more convenient to cross borders.

The first International Silk Road Conference was held in 1998 in Turkmenistan and the second was held in Uzbekistan in 1999, discussing the rejuvenation of the Silk Road and construction of transport infrastructure. IRF has tenaciously promoted the Silk Road despite the five-year gap since last conference in Uzbekistan.

The International Road Federation, established in 1948, is a non-governmental and non-profit world organization with some 70 members from governments and private firms. It is involved in road construction and financing and participates extensively in road building and development.

With the spectacular economic growth in China, with the European Union looking more outward, and with the continuing development in Central Asia, the need for a road network along the Silk Road is ever more apparent. Some countries, such as China, have already made substantial progress in the construction and rehabilitation of the road links on their territory, while others lag behind. "Our purpose is to promote the development of the whole region", Westerhuis said.

The Xi'an Silk Road Conference also attracted financial organs, including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and APEC and other international organizations.

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