BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) -- China Women's Development Foundation (CWDF) and Tunisian National Women Union (UNFT) Wednesday began their first joint embroidery training project to help Tunisian women hone their skills.

It is the CWDF'S first cooperation project on public well-being with African countries under the framework of its women's development fund. The project aims to establish an international platform for women to interact and cooperate to improve people's livelihood along the Belt and Road, said a press release from the CWDF.

Proposed by China in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Africa and Europe along the trade routes of the ancient Silk Road.

A total of 20 trainees selected by UNFT from various places in Tunisia attended the project in Beijing, the statement said.

The project will teach the Tunisian women, who typically embroider silk wedding dresses, silk embroidery techniques from the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou, a style famous for its skillful needlework and refined colors.