Seminar Abstract

In March 2015, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China issued a joint statement entitled “Vision and Actions on Jointly Building Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road.” This statement highlighted the “Belt & Road (B&R) Initiatives” which have been developing towards new stages of practical economic cooperation between China and other countries which are participating in the Maritime Silk Road. However, the success of the “B&R Initiatives” will depend on synergizing national development strategies along specified routes to achieve this objective. This seminar shall discuss Malaysia’s economic partnership with China as a case study to illustrate how cooperation in the “B&R Initiatives” could be further propelled and improved.  Firstly, this seminar will comprehensively review Malaysia’s national development strategy and investigate its response to the “B&R Initiatives.”  This will be followed by an analysis of Malaysia’s interests in the “B&R Initiatives” in order to provide helpful suggestions on improving cooperation in the Maritime Silk Road.

About the Speaker

Mao Wei is Director of the Department of Malaysia Studies at the China-ASEAN Research Institute of Guangxi University.  She has a Ph.D in Finance, graduated from University of Birmingham.  Her research interests includes corporate finance and Malaysian studies. Dr Wei Mao participated in many key national programs, and is responsible for one National Natural Fund Project in China.