Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, recently rolled out plans to build the Belt and Road Comprehensive Pilot Zone during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25).

According to the plans, by 2025, a westward international air transport channel in Xi'an should be formed, with 50 navigable cities in the countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

A high-speed train runs on the Yinchuan-Xi'an high-speed railway. [Photo/Xi'an Evening Daily]

During the five-year period, there should be eight high-speed rail lines completed or under construction, and the number of cities in the "high-speed rail one-day life circle" centering on Xi'an should be further increased.

Construction of the China-Europe Railway Express Xi'an Assembly Center should achieve remarkable results by 2025, and the annual container throughput of Xi'an Port is projected to exceed 400,000 twenty-foot equivalent units.

The first 2022 China-Europe freight train for COVID-19 pandemic prevention and supply provision arrives in Xi'an. [Photo/Xi'an Daily]

In the five-year period, Xi'an plans to introduce 255 Fortune Global 500 companies and their branches, and establish more than 20 international cooperation parks at home and abroad.

Meanwhile, it will also seek to have 50 international sister cities by 2025, as well as 20,000 foreign students.

To achieve the above-mentioned goals, the plans also outline five key tasks in the five-year period: promoting the construction of a new Asia-Europe land-sea trade channel, improving international trade liberalization and facilitation, creating a new system of high-level open economy, building a new hub for Belt and Road cultural exchange, and creating a Belt and Road science and technology innovation center.

The Xi'an High-tech Industries Development Zone is being developed. [Photo/Xi'an Evening News]