Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi said on Saturday that China will carry forward the spirit of the ancient Silk Road, and work actively to build the Silk Road economic belt and the 21st century Maritime Silk Road.

Yang made the remarks when addressing the opening ceremony of the two-day Third World Peace Forum at Tsinghua University in Beijing.

With the theme of In Pursuit of Common Security: Peace, Mutual Trust and Responsibility, the forum will discuss security issues in the Asian-Pacific region, the Middle East and Central Asia, as well as nuclear nonproliferation.

Yang said for centuries, the Silk Road has been a synonym for peace, cooperation, openness, inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit and this spirit has been passed on from generation to generation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, during his visit to Central and Southeast Asian countries last fall, put forward the two initiatives of building an economic belt along the ancient Silk Road and a 21st century Maritime Silk Road respectively, thus breathing new life into the time-honored wonder, he said.

He said many countries in Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe as well as Russia have welcomed and voiced support for the plans.

"China will work with all parties on the project with a view to achieving common development for countries along the routes," he said.

Last month, President Xi put forth an initiative for common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security in Asia, at the fourth summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia.

Yang said the concept has a major and far-reaching significance for enhancing mutual trust and cooperation among the countries and bringing about lasting peace and common prosperity in the region and the world.

The concept has reflected consensus among Asian countries, said Yang, adding that it gives expression to the wisdom of Asia, as it accommodates the continent's diversity and difference and echoes the common desire of all Asian people for peace and stability in the region.

It has enriched ideas on security cooperation, as it calls on Asian nations to strive to jointly build a road for Asian security that is shared by all, he said.

The idea has increased dynamism for security cooperation in Asia and the world, he said, noting that the formulation and implementation of the Asian security concept shows to the world that the continent's countries have the wisdom and capability to promote peace and prosperity in the region through enhanced cooperation.

Nations outside the region should take into full account the real conditions of the region, respect the reasonable concerns of the regional countries, and join us in working to enhance rather than compromise regional security and development, he said.

About 500 guests attended the forum, including former Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi, former Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, former French Prime Minister Dominique Galouzeau de Villepin, former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and former European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana.

The forum concludes on Sunday. Endi