In 2013, the Chinese central government launched the "One-Belt-One-Road" (OBOR) strategy, which refers to the initiative of jointly building the Silk Road Economic Belt, which links China with Europe through Central and Western Asia, and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, which connects China with Southeast Asian countries, Africa, and Europe.
The objectives of the OBOR strategy are to promote economic prosperity of the countries along the belt and road and regional economic cooperation, to strengthen exchanges and mutual learning between different civilizations, and to promote world peace and development.
Bangladesh has increasingly been connected with the Chinese economy through trade, investment, and cultural exchanges during the last decade or so. Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), holds promises to deliver physical and soft infrastructure to foster connectivity and economic development across its corridors. For Bangladesh too, BRI provides an opportunity to seize benefits, particularly in areas of trade, investment, connectivity, education, and tourism, through strong ties with countries particularly in the Southern Asian region.