' One Belt, One Road' initiatives offer hope to firms like Zoomlion amid stagnant sales in domestic market, reports Xu Wei.

Plans by China's leaders to revive ancient intercontinental land routes and develop maritime links are being seen by many makers of heavy machinery as the key to survival in a brutally competitive industry.

The initiatives are formally known as the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, often referred to as "One Belt, One Road". These programs offer heavy equipment producers an opportunity to do more business overseas and escape from an unprecedented domestic slump.