Neighbourhood diplomacy is becoming a foreign policy priority for official Beijing, and demonstrates that China is willing to undertake the role of mediator in Afghanistan and accelerate regional efforts to bring all relevant parties to the negotiating table.

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank will help finance billions in infrastructure projects around Asia, and also challenge the existing financial institutions. Curtis S. Chin, provides suggestions on how the new institution should organized to be efficient, environmentally stringent, and respectful of local rights.

President Xi Jinping’s visit has deepened China-Russia strategic mutual trust. That improves Eurasian cooperation and boosts the preservation and reform of the post-war international order, making it fairer and more just.

Philippine efforts to revisit the historical value of the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade (MAGT) and China's revival of the Maritime Silk Road (MSR) can be seen as national projects aimed at rekindling a deep historical relationship with the sea. Growing Sino-Latin American trade may encourage an extension of the MSR across the Pacific and also reignite the importance of MAGT.

To some extent, the structures of the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund are obsolete: they can no longer meet the needs of new emerging economies and don’t reflect today’s global economy. The AIIB could serve to invigorate the other banks to become more competitive and efficient.

China’s investment in Central Asian energy and transportation is impressively promoting regional integration. There is still a degree of fear and caution from Central Asian leadership due to incomprehension of Beijing’s foreign policy goals, a historical legacy of confrontation, and the sensitivity of Moscow to recognize the importance of Beijing’s role.

In October 2013, during a visit to Indonesia, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the launching of the New 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, just one month after announcing the New Silk Road Economic Belt, while on a visit to Kazakhstan. These two initiatives, followed in 2014 by the plan to put together the BRICS New Development Bank and China’s establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank that Fall, constitute a new paradigm for mankind.

The “One Belt and One Road” initiative concerns 65 countries and 4.4 billion people and is China’s most important and strategic initiative. As the Middle East and Europe faces social, political, and economic turbulence, China invites all major economies to join this endeavor to improve infrastructure and trade throughout the world. Increasingly, China’s development is inseparable from the world; and world’s stability and prosperity are inseparable from China.

The Third Session of the 12th National People’s Congress delivered a “Report on the Work of the Government.” Notable advancement was made in conducting economic diplomacy with the Silk Road Economic Belt, 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiatives, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and Silk Road Fund. More significant openness to the outside world and expanded economic diplomacy are priorities of diplomatic work in 2015.

Though some view the One Belt, One Road strategy as a Chinese version of the Marshall Plan, they are vastly different. Therefore, no single country can dominate its process. There is room to dispel suspicion and build trust by further enhancing transparency of the AIIB institution through reducing China’s shareholding, offering more leadership positions to foreign nationals, and employing international business standards.