SHANGHAI, Nov. 16 -- China will promote travel to countries along the Silk Road in 2015, according to the latest decision by the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA).

Du Jiang, deputy director of the CNTA, said at the China International Travel Mart 2014 (CITM) that the decision was made against the backdrop of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiatives which were proposed by China to boost regional economic and infrastructure cooperation, as well as people-to-people exchange in Asia.

Tourism marketing and promotion in China next year will focus on travel products related to the Silk Road concept, Du said.

The State Council, China's cabinet, released guidelines to promote tourism in August, urging better cooperation and more exchanges with countries in central Asia, south Asia and southeast Asia.

The CITM, Asia's largest professional travel mart, takes place in Shanghai from Friday to Sunday, with exhibitors from 106 nations and regions invited this year.