The One Belt, One Road initiative is a key focus of China’s foreign policy. As it is the most cherished project of President Xi Jinping, the Beijing government is mobilizing its massive diplomatic and financial resources for the initiative.

The project, which aims to link the countries that were on the ancient Silk Road routes — the land- and ocean-based ones — through transportation and infrastructure networks, started two years ago. It involves about 50 countries in areas as vast as Central Asia, Middle East, Southeast Asia, Europe and North Africa.

Xi outlined the land-based Silk Road Economic Belt policy in September 2013 during his visit to Kazakhstan. He proclaimed the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative in Indonesia one month later.

… Li Mingjiang, a professor from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, said ASEAN was largely positive about the Belt and Road initiative, mainly due to its potential for long-term economic development.

He said countries like Thailand, Cambodia, Laos endorsed the Chinese initiative without any reservation. The deputy prime ministers of Thailand and Laos indeed offered their full support in their opening speeches.