Xi Jinping opened the Boao Forum in China with a plea for political and economic cooperation concerning Asia.<br /><br /> During his key note speech, the Chinese president called on the continent to take part in a programme he launched: the so-called ‘Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road Initiatives.’<br /><br /> “The programme and the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank – AIIB – are open to all,” he said. “We welcome the countries along the road and all the Asian nations. We also welcome friends from every continent.” <br /><br /> Britain has announced they’ll sign up for the AIIB, an institution providing financial support to Xi’s programme.<br /><br /> The US, however, has resisted.<br /><br /> Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, highlighted the importance of inter-continental trade.<br /><br /> “Bilateral, inter-regional trade flows between Asia and Europe are already the largest worldwide,” he said. “So we depend on each other. That’s a fact. For example, financial stability in the Eurozone di
