Presiding over the eighth meeting of the Central Leading Group on Financial and Economic Affairs on November 4, 2014, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China will accelerate construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, and strengthen cooperation with the countries involved. He said "We should prepare timetables and road maps for the coming years for the 'One Belt and One Road' project." He added that China would help partner countries with infrastructure projects, including transportation, electricity and telecommunications.