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Ning Fukui, ambassador of China to Thailand.Many large investment projects are needed, and those related to the New Silk Road will play a crucial role in strengthening economic cooperation between China and the AECing policies at “International Know- ledge Talk V: China and AEC under the New Silk Road”, at the Bangkok Bank head office in February. Under scrutiny was the new era of the Chinese economy and Beijing’s international soft-power strategies, especially with regard to the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).Ning Fukui, ambassador of China to Thailand, explained that China is the first business partner of over 120 countries and counts ASEAN as a key partner. Recent trade volume is worth US$480 billion, a five-fold increase over the past 10 years, and a target of $1 trillion has been set for overall trade by 2020. Many large investment projects are needed to reach this goal, and those related to the NewSilk Road will play a crucial role in strengthening economic cooperation between China and the AEC.“Such as with the recently inaugu- rated high-speed railway project, set to be the longest in the world, China has great potential to cooperate in infrastructure development, including highways and railroads, in order to connect China with ASEAN,” Ambassador Ning said. “With our experience and technology, we are also capable of helping improve maritime transport and fibre-optic telecommunications for the people of the AEC.”Infrastructure is key to boosting economic growth in the region, as it will facilitate collaboration on other aspects of development, and Thailandhas the potential of becoming the infrastructural hub of the AEC.“The Sino-Thai rail link is the primary project of our cooperative infrastructure development,” said Ambassador Ning. “There is a good possibility of finalizing the project this year, depending on factors such as cooperation, investment and research on railway effects, which must be prepared well in advance. China is willing to contribute its best service and technology to support the railway’s construction.”The Sino-Thai rail link is a joint project to help connect China with destinations throughout the New Silk Road trade route. Associate Professor Aksornsri Phanishsarn, director of the Thai-Chinese Strategic ResearchElite+ 15