The Region Initiative (TRI) has appealed to Chinese government not to use name ‘New Silk Road’ for its new cross border road project running through central Asia and continuing into Europe.

The body is comprised of a network of responsible tourism organisations from south and central Asia and Eastern Europe, including Pakistan, Nepal, Armenia, Turkey, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

In an appeal, TRI maintains that 213 kilometre expressway between Kashgar and Erkeshtam, scheduled to open in 2012, should not be call ‘New Silk Road’ by the Chinese media and government because such a name may undermine the historic original Silk Road.

The venture is the first expressway to cross the Pamirs Plateau and will offer access to Central Asia and a new link between Asia and Europe.

It is being built by China to facilitate transport and trade.