TIANJIN, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Telecom giant China Unicom will lower international roaming charges in countries and regions along the Belt and Road starting May 1.

Roaming fees for calls made by China Unicom users will fall by an average 52 percent in 17 countries and regions, while data roaming fees will fall by an average 75 percent in 19 countries and regions.

The Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China in 2013 consists of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road. It aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along and beyond ancient Silk Road trade routes.

Earlier this week, China Mobile, the country's leading telecom services provider, announced that it would lower roaming charges in 64 countries and regions along the Belt and Road starting May 1.