ABSTRACT
This chapter briefly examines the concept of 'One Belt One Road' (OBOR), the financial costs involved, and evaluate the reasons behind China's new initiative. It discusses the development gaps in ASEAN, which forms the backdrop as to why some of the ASEAN countries urgently need investment and other financial assistance from friendly countries including China to close the gaps. It focuses on Malaysia, the first ASEAN country to forge diplomatic relations with China. The chapter shows the evolution of Malaysia–China relations, including investment and trade over the decades, focuses attention to how Malaysia has lately turned further toward China in a big way by sealing an agreement involving a huge economic, defense and security package. The chapter discusses some of the challenges China and ASEAN have to address in order to advance their cooperation and 'connect the dots', especially in light of the suspicion and skepticism by a number of countries in the region toward the rise of China.
