Details needed to join up the dots on Silk Road project
Beijing must take the lead in laying out specifics for domestic, foreign partners, officials say
The central government is expected to ramp up efforts to link local governments with the ancient Silk Road.
Many local governments have already proposed plans for the "One Belt, One Road" concept - a strategy aiming to link China with Europe through rail and maritime connections. But centralised planning by top government leadership is needed to make the effort more concrete to other nations.
In his government work report delivered at the annual parliamentary session last week, Premier Li Keqiang said measures would be taken to boost the plan, but he did not give specific details.
More than 30 provincial-level divisions have included boosting connectivity in their work plan; Shanxi, for example, pledged to step up cooperation with Russia.
Beijing is expected to release a blueprint for the initiatives later this year, and some local officials have called for a clear strategy for the ambition.
"Right now, there is no detailed planning, and the objective is not clear enough," said Yue Yuesheng, director of industry and information technology of Yunnan , in a panel discussion on the sidelines of the National People's Congress.
