CEOs, scholars: B&R to boost Southeast Asia's development

More than 50 entrepreneurs and senior executives from eight economies including Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, have been enrolled in studies in China under the Tsinghua PBCSF Belt and Road EMBA Program for Southeast Asia.

Tsinghua University authorities and some of these students shared their insights on the Belt and Road Initiative in Beijing on Thursday. Let us take a look.

Tengku Zafrul Aziz, CEO of CIMB Group Holdings Bhd, a universal bank headquartered in Malaysia

Tengku Zafrul Aziz, CEO of CIMB Group Holdings Bhd, made a speech at the opening ceremony of the Tsinghua PBCSF Belt and Road EMBA Program for Southeast Asia on May 11, 2017 in Beijing. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

"No doubt, there is a lot happening right now – from the recent political outcome in France to the improving outlook for the global economy – but for Asia, the theme set to anchor the region's future growth is China's Belt and Road Initiative, and China's strengthening relations with its neighbors, including Malaysia.

"What is profound about the initiative is that it is an opportunity to create vital infrastructure that connects and further empowers trade."

"According to the Asian Development Bank, Asia alone needs about $770 billion a year until 2020 in new infrastructure. Belt and Road projects such as a gas pipeline from the Bay of Bengal through Myanmar to Southwest China, or a rail link between Beijing to Germany, might just be the catalyst to address this need."

"For those reasons, I am tremendously excited for the Belt and Road Initiative. "