Beijing, Sep 18 (IANS): China looks forward to reaching consensus with India on jointly building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said Thursday.

The two countries will discuss the issue during the ongoing state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to India.

The initiative of constructing the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, also known as "One Belt and One Road", was put forward by Xi in his visits to central Asia and southeast Asia, respectively, in 2013.

"The initiative aims to further deepen China's reciprocal cooperation with neighbouring countries, and promote their common development and prosperity," foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said during a regular press briefing Thursday.

He noted that the Silk Road has promoted cooperation between China and its neighbours since ancient times, as well as China's role of a peace-loving country, Xinhua reported.

The country hopes to continue such cooperation within the framework of the new silk road to the benefit of all involved, Hong said.

Xi started his India tour Wednesday, the last leg of his ongoing four-country Asia trip, which has already taken him to Tajikistan, the Maldives and Sri Lanka.