1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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)

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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 )
By invitation only, 20 countries have apparently confirmed their participation, though names have not been disclosed