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COUNTRY PORTRAIT | by Nuchanard KrengsillathumWEAVING A SILK ROADTHROUGH CHINA’S‘NEW NORMAL’New international soft-power policies are an example of Beijing’s adaptation to domestic industrialization and slowing growth, potentially leading to closer financial and diplomatic ties with the AEC and greater reciprocal investmentC hina’s economy may have slowed over the past few years, but the planned Sino-Thai railway, a joint mega-project to be built under the New Silk Road initiative, demon- strates Beijing’s continued interestin regional investment. And Thai entrepreneurs are likewise taking a closer look at the new trade and investment opportunities.Diplomats, economists and scholars were invited to discuss China’s chang-