Senior Chinese diplomats say President Xi Jinping's upcoming trip to Central and Eastern European Countries and Central Asia is expected to significantly boost the Belt and Road Initiative.

Xi Jinping will leave Beijing on Friday to pay state visits to Serbia, Poland and Uzbekistan. He will also attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent.

The visits to Serbia and Poland will be the second trip by Xi Jinping to Central and Eastern Europe this year, following his state visit to the Czech Republic in March.

Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister, Liu Haixing, says the Belt and Road Initiative will be topping the agenda during the President's visits in the two countries.

"Last year, China signed respective Memorandum of Understanding with Serbia, Poland and the Czech Republic regarding the Belt and Road Initiative. This time we hope there will be more concrete measures to push forward the Initiative. We expect these measures to be included in relevant governmental agreements and business contracts to be signed during the visits."

Uzbekistan was among the first countries to endorse the Belt and Road Initiative.

During the visit, Xi Jinping is scheduled to meet Uzbek leaders and attend signing ceremonies for cooperation agreements in such fields as energy, finance, infrastructure construction, technology and tourism.

This year also marks the 15th anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Assistant Foreign Minister Li Huilai says the Tashkent Summit will discuss two major issues.

"The leaders will first exchange views on major international and regional issues. They will also discuss how to deepen mutually-beneficial cooperation among member states in various fields. The SCO faces both challenges and opportunities under the new situation and the leaders need to work together to strive for an appropriate joint response."

Li Huilai also says China expects important progress to be made on the expansion of the SCO at the Tashkent summit, adding that the inclusion of new members will herald a new era for the regional group.

India and Pakistan were given the initial green-light to join the SCO at last year's summit.

This year, member states are expected to approve a memorandum for the two countries to join, a key step closer to their SCO membership.