BEIJING — Using the “Belt and Road Initiatives”, China is looking for practical cooperation with its Asian neighbors and other countries in the world. The ongoing overseas tours by Premier Li Keqiang mark another concrete step to put such initiatives into practice.

Li left Beijing on Dec 14 and started his visit to three Asian and European countries.

In a joint communiqué issued during Li’s official visit to Kazakhstan, the two countries pledged to further collaborate on confidence-building measures to tap into the potential of high-tech cooperation and further advance aerospace cooperation. They signed a series of cooperative deals worth about $14 billion.

Li said China is willing to tap complementary economic advantages and expand cooperation in energy and non-energy fields with Kazakhstan.

The visit and the latest developments are a clear echo and implementation of the China-proposed initiatives regarding building of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road.

In Kazakhstan last autumn, President Xi Jinping proposed China and Central Asia join hands to build a Silk Road economic belt to boost cooperation.

In November this year, Xi announced China will accelerate the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, and strengthen cooperation with the countries involved, urging timetables and road maps for the coming years for the “Belt and Road initiatives”.

Measures following these comments have revealed that China is determined to carry out the initiatives to make them a reality, benefiting the countries involved.

During his tour, the Premier will also attend the 13th prime ministers’ meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Analysts believe with several SCO members located along the “Belt and Road”, the commitment of China and other SCO members will also promote the construction of the “Belt and Road Initiatives”.

Also, with promotion of cooperation and connectivity among the countries involved, the initiatives will contribute greatly to regional peace and stability as well.

Li’s current tour and achievements during the visit are not the only action China has taken to realize the proposal while advancing regional cooperation and connectivity.

During this year’s annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings, President Xi said China will contribute $40 billion to set up a Silk Road Fund, providing investment and financing support to carry out infrastructure, resource, industrial, and financial cooperation with neighboring countries.

Moreover, China has proposed the establishment of an Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to fund infrastructure projects in underdeveloped Asian countries.

These efforts indicate China is not only the advocator of the “Belt and Road Initiatives,” but also a diligent contributor to regional cooperation.

The moves can also be taken as steps of the country to offer more opportunities to other countries to take a ride on the Chinese “express train” of development and to promote an increasingly open world economy.