Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been an obscure concept, and it remains difficult to distinguish what BRI is and isn’t, making it difficult for many governments and global corporations to properly participate in it. I am delighted to present the opinions and perspectives of many eminent researchers, professors and experts from various countries on the Belt Road Initiative (BRI). The major objective of the book Belt and Road Initiative and South Asia is to bring together policymakers, professionals, researchers, corporate sector and other important stakeholders to examine the dynamics of BRI in order to discover renewed prospects of economic development for Nepal and other South Asian countries. The book contains 11 chapters which are written by distinguished researchers and practitioners from various parts of Asia. While these 11 chapters discuss the many characteristics of the BRI, including advantages and costs, they also convey the lessons that many other Southeast Asian countries have learned. Each chapter offers valueable lessons to the countries that have yet to participate in the initiatives.Contents Foreword Preface Acknowledgements About the Contributors List of Tables, Figures and Maps List of Abbreviations 1. Introduction Kalyan Raj Sharma PART I:BIG PICTURE 2. China’s Trade Imbalance with South Asian Nations: How Can the BRI Help? Yin Xiangshuo 3. The BRI and SDGs Nexus: Cooperation or Confrontation? Bhoj Raj Poudel PART II: SOUTH ASIA 4. BRI for Trade and Connectivity in South Asia: A CPEC Model Hina Aslam 5. BRI, Trade and Connectivity: Bangladesh’s Perspective MahfuzKabirand Nahian Reza Sabriet 6. Strengthening International Cooperation and Building a Community of Shared Future between Nepal and China Yang Yaboand Zhang Jianghong 7. On Countermeasures and Suggestions to Further Economic Cooperation between China and Nepal Di Fangyao, Cui Hongyeand Yang Fan 8. Evidence and Lessons from BRI: The Case of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Vaqar Ahmed 9. The COVID-19 Pandemic and BRI 2.0 Partha S Banerjee PART III: LESSONS FROM SOUTHEAST ASIA 10. Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Sustainable Development in Lao PDR VanxaySayavong 11. Malaysia’s Response towards China’s Belt and Road Initiative under Mahathir 2.0 NurShahadah Jamil 12. Win-Win Cooperation through the BRI: What Constitutes a “Win” for the Philippines? Darlene V. Estrada Annexures • Conference Agenda I (2018) • Conference Agenda II (2019) Index About the Author: Dr. Kalyan Raj Sharma graduated from Fudan University with a doctoral degree in economics in 2011. He is now the Chair of Nepal China Friendship Forum(NCFF), visiting scholar at Kathmandu University and the Managing Director of Adventure Outdoor Group of Companies. During his doctoral studies at Fudan, Sharma published a number of academic papers in both Chinese and English on the economy and tourism of China and Nepal. After the establishment of Nepal China Friendship Forum (NCFF) in 2013, (NCFF involve in Academic Research, organise various Seminar, Cultural Exchange, etc.) with an objective to put light upon the most relevant economic development, culture and other various issues relating to the relationship of Nepal and China through various activities such as trainings, workshops, seminars and other cultural exchange programmes.