The Belt and Road Initiative: China’s Foreign Direct Investments Toward ASEAN Countries

This thesis analyzes the Chinese flow of foreign direct investment (FDIs) along the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), with a focus on the most profitable sectors and destinations. Specifically, it examines the Chinese FDIs directed toward the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that participate in the Belt and Road Initiative. The primary objective of this thesis is to provide an overview of the BRI’s origin and objectives and the development of the economic relations between China and ASEAN countries. Moreover, this research paper focuses on the key sectors and destinations of China’s FDI in ASEAN countries, aiming to assess whether the impacts of the BRI on the economic and social systems of ASEAN nations have been positive for their economic development.