The first international exposition for the21st Century Maritime Silk Road closed on Nov.2, which delivered a signal that with the help of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road’s construction, China will further explore industry cooperation integrating points with the countries along the Road.

Last October, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road during his visit to Indonesia. The concept was written into the country's government work report this March.

The exposition lasted three days from Oct.31 to Nov.2 with 174.7 billion yuan (28.6 billion U.S. dollars) in business deals signed. According to the organizing committee of the expo, 80,000 businessmen, scholars and visitors from 42 countries and regions attended the three-day expo, including those from 25 countries along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

Former chief economist of the World Bank Lin Yifu said that the countries along the Road were regions with abundant natural resources, huge market potential, low labor cost and numerous tourism destinations. Lin said that since 2008, when traditional industrialized countries in north America and the Europe encountered economic slowdown, new markets have been emerging in developing regions.

The experts and exhibitors believed that as the strategy of constructingthe 21st Century Maritime Silk Road carried out, China and ASEAN together with other countries along the Road will create diamond ten years following golden ten years.