China launches service to back Xi's Silk Road plan

China's state news agency on Thursday launched an information service on more than 60 Asian, African and European countries to support a multibillion dollar geopolitical drive by President Xi Jinping. Under Xi, the world's second-largest economy is pushing to build infrastructure and trade links on the ancient Silk Road trade routes on land and sea, in what is dubbed a "One Belt, One Road" economic plan that would also increase regional heft. The Xinhua Silk Road service will