A meeting is held on June 6, gathering leaders of Zhejiang province to study the Belt and Road Initiative and discuss the possibilities of Zhejiang's role in the initiative. [Photo by Liang Zhen]

China's Belt and Road Initiative offers the best opportunities for East China's Zhejiang province to further open up and grow its economy, said Che Jun, the province's Party secretary, at a study meeting on June 6.

Zhejiang needs to think hard about how it can take advantage of the initiative to boost its development and open new channels of communication with the outside world, according to Che.

It is critical that provincial officials gain an in-depth understanding of the Belt and Road project and its core principles, including its significance and requirements, the Party secretary stressed.

The Belt and Road Initiative, launched by the Chinese government in 2013, aims to strengthen China's ties with countries across Asia, Europe and Africa through increased investment in infrastructure, trade and cultural exchanges.

Zhejiang's new round of reforms to open up its economy is expected to be guided by the initiative, while the province's industrial development and scientific innovation could also be boosted by it, according to Che.