QUANZHOU, Fujian, Feb. 11 -- A two-day international seminar on beefing up maritime trade infrastructure in Asia opened Wednesday in east China's Quanzhou City.

Over 280 academics and experts from 30 countries have been invited to discuss proposals to build a "21st Century Maritime Silk Road." The event is themed "collectively building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and creating a community of common destiny."

It will involve three round table meetings covering the topics of "the values and significance of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative," "working together for common development and prosperity" and "seizing fresh development opportunities and tapping new cooperation prospects."

Jiang Jianguo, director of China's State Council Information Office, said in his welcoming address that the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road have become hot topics for the media and think tanks, reflecting the attraction of the initiatives to countries along the route.

You Quan, secretary of the Fujian Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, said Fujian has always been a pioneer of reform and opening-up and a close trading partner of countries in Southeast Asia.

"As the core area in constructing the modern maritime Silk Road, Fujian stands ready to increase maritime connectivity, promote multiple trades and transactions, advance maritime cooperation and make contributions to the Road," You said in a keynote speech.

Being a means of disseminating information and a messenger of cultural exchange, the media plays an irreplaceable role in promoting mutual understanding and friendship among countries, said Cai Mingzhao, president of the Xinhua News Agency.

Cai said Xinhua will increase its coverage of the Silk Road initiative, and provide tailored news products on the subject.

Wang Weiguang, president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the seminar is conducive to boosting political trust, deepening economic cooperation and promoting cultural as well as people-to-people exchanges among countries along the route.

In 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed a modernization of the ancient Silk Road trading network to benefit the Asia region.

The seminar is hosted by the State Council Information Office and co-organized by the Xinhua News Agency, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the China International Publishing Group and the Fujian Provincial Academy of Social Sciences.