BEIJING, Nov 29 (INP): China has signed memorandums of understanding with Estonia, Lithuania and Slovenia to promote the Belt and Road Initiative, signalling that all 16 Central and Eastern European countries have agreed to align with the initiative. The initiative, proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2013, comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. It will create a vast network of trade and infrastructure along the ancient Silk Road routes. The memorandums were among more than 10 agreements signed between China and CEE nations on Monday in Budapest, the Hungarian capital. The signings were witnessed by Premier Li Keqiang and other leaders after the sixth Meeting of Heads of Government of China-Central and Eastern European Countries. The documents covered areas such as connectivity, production capacity cooperation, infrastructure and finance. At the meeting, the premier called for promoting bilateral trade, connectivity, innovation cooperation, financial cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. Li called on all 17 countries to accelerate the process of key projects on connectivity, promoting links on land, sea, air and via the internet. More measures should be released to facilitate customs clearance, and China would like to see more rail lines and direct flights between China and Europe, Li said. A logistics center will be set up in the CEE region, he said. Li also suggested innovation cooperation focusing on production capacity, energy, logistics and agriculture and said enterprises from CEE nations are welcome to participate in the Made in China strategy. INP/AH/LK