One Belt summit a top diplomatic event for Beijing

Beijing

BEIJING is hosting its first "One Belt, One Road" summit on Sunday and Monday, in what will be one of the diplomatic highlights for the Chinese government this year.

Foreign diplomats have said that the summit, which will bring together more than 28 heads of state, is considered by Beijing to be even more important than the hosting of the G20 in Hangzhou last September.

In what has become standard procedure for Beijing, security is high, with all social gatherings like concerts cancelled this weekend.

Apart from heads of state, the foreign ministry has said 61 international organisations will …