BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The Silk Road Think Tank Network (SiLKS) has released a declaration on joint action to support the Belt and Road Initiative, pledging to advise and assist government efforts to advance the plan.

At the annual conference in Beijing, members and partners of SiLKS agreed to increase information exchanges to offer constructive advice for policy design and mechanism building for the initiative.

They also vowed to play their role in facilitating strategy coordination and people-to-people connectivity.

SiLKS was jointly launched by the Development Research Center of the State Council of China and several international think tanks. The network currently has 54 members and partners.

The Belt and Road Initiative is a grand plan proposed by China in 2013to connect Asia with Europe and Africa along, and beyond, ancient trade routes by putting in place an unparalleled trade and infrastructure network.

A two-day forum of world leaders ended on May 15 with promises and high hopes, including the signing of a series of cooperation agreements to revive the Silk Road.