The 2018 Shanxi Brands Silk Road Tour was launched in Berlin, Germany, on Sept 3 –– the first stop on its European tour.

Established in June 2015, the annual tour is designed to promote Shanxi to an international audience through a series of brand exhibitions, business promotions, cultural events and investment opportunities.

With a theme of promoting mutually-beneficial cooperation, this year's tour will take in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and ASEAN member states.

Provincial representatives involved in energy, environmental protection, telecommunications, and engineering are taking part in the European leg of the tour.

The tour will be divided into two phases –– the first will last until Sept 11 and involve stops in Berlin, Prague and Vienna. And the second phase will last from Sept 16 to 23, with 14 Shanxi rail firms taking part in InnoTrans, the leading international trade fair for transport technology which takes places every two years in Berlin.

Chen Hecai (right), director of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Shanxi Provincial Committee and Petr Necas , former prime minister of the Czech Republic pose for a photograph during the 2018 Shanxi Brands Silk Road Tour, on Sept 7. [Photo/internet]

Visitors pictured at the 2016 InnoTrans event on Sept 21, 2016 [Photo/IC]