Myanmar academic urges Belt and Road promotion

A senior Myanmar academic has urged China to raise awareness of the Belt and Road regional trade and infrastructure network, ahead of a forum that provides a big chance to promote the scheme.

The Belt and Road will benefit members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) but some of them know little about the strategy, said U Nyunt Maung Shein, chairman of the Myanmar Institute of Strategic and International Studies, who is in China preparing for the China-ASEAN Expo to open in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Friday.

Nyunt Maung Shein said the initiative provides opportunities for ASEAN countries like Myanmar and Cambodia to improve their infrastructure.

He cited the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar economic corridor. Though it is a major part of the Belt and Road, a lack of promotion has hindered the corridor's development, according to the academic, who suggested China provide more channels for communication on the topic.

Meanwhile, there remain concerns in some countries about whether the Belt and Road will impact local interests and security.

Nyunt Maung Shein said such concerns are normal but countries would be better taking the initiative as a chance for mutually beneficial cooperation.

The Belt and Road refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road plans proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping to link countries in a vast part of Asia, Europe and Africa. Endi