DENG & CARTER Presidents Deng Xiaoping and Jimmy Carter at their seminal meeting at the White House in 1979. Their meeting followed the normalization of diplomatic relations between the People’s Republic of China and the United States.

OBOR ANNOUNCED In September 2013, President Xi Jinping introduces the Silk Road Economic Belt plan in Astana, Kazakhstan. In October, he announced the concept of a 21st century Maritime Silk Road to the Indonesian Parliament.

ONE BELT ONE ROAD Participating states’… Total population: 4.4 billion (63% global population) Combined economic value: 21 trillion USD Trade volume with China exceeded 1 trillion USD in 2014 (worth 26% global trade)

ONE BELT ONE ROAD Adheres to the principles of the 5 Connectedness and 3 Commonalities (五通三同） Policy connectedness Infrastructure connectedness Trade connectedness Funding connectedess Public opinion connectedess Common interests Common destiny Common responsibility

INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES: OBOR Russia: Initially hesitant, but now generally welcoming of the initiative Suggested standardization with Eurasian Economic Union Some concerns over loss of Russian influence to China Given regional ties, could act as security guarantor for OBOR projects

INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES: OBOR Central Asian states: Positive responses, more enthusiastic than Russia Kazakhstan has released its own infrastructure development plan (Nurly Zhol – Way of Light) to complement China’s OBOR initiative Willing to develop relations bilaterally with China, as well as through multilateral fora like the EEU

INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES: OBOR The European Union: Mixed, uncoordinated responses, amongst member states Slow to engage until more concrete proposals are offered – this is changing gradually Local governments more enthusiastic than national and European governments Some states have joined AIIB

INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES: non-OBOR USA: Hesitant to critical on One Belt One Road Has not joined Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Concerns over AIIB’s governance and regulatory standards President Trump has not commented on either AIIB or OBOR

INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES: non-OBOR Japan: Cautious about assisting OBOR projects until more concrete projects proposed Has not joined AIIB due to similar concerns to the US Launched its own infrastructure development plan, the Partnership for Quality Infrastructure (PQI) In 2015 announced with Asian Development Bank 110 billion USD for projects in Asia over the next 5 years

INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES: non-OBOR India: Mostly silent on OBOR, but officially joined AIIB Implicit concerns about motives and beneficiaries of OBOR accruing mostly to China Concerned about regional position and economic health re: China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar projects Would consider cooperation with any initiative if it is consultative and mutually beneficial

CHINA’S SUMMIT DIPLOMACY: OBOR Forum OBOR international forum planned for May 2017 in Beijing “to brainstorm on interconnected development” and ensure OBOR is mutually beneficial (cctv.com ENGLISH, Jan 01 2017) By invitation only, 20 countries have apparently confirmed their participation, though names have not been disclosed