The Silk Road is one of the oldest and most historically important terrestrial and marine trade routes in the Asian continent. Trade on the Silk Road was a significant factor in the development of the civilizations of China, the Indian subcontinent, Persia, Europe, the Horn of Africa and Arabia, opening long-distance, cultural, political and economic relations between the civilizations.

The objective of the Silk Road for Sustainable Development initiative is to build a network of BRs and showcase the many possibilities and opportunities it offers for sustainable development. The Silk Road network will include not only BRs from the existing Asia-Pacific, African and European networks of BRs but also related partners and interested stakeholders, to facilitate international connectivity and cooperation towards the delivery of the global Agenda 2030.