Singapore has inked a deal with China that will boost collaboration between their companies that operate in other countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The BRI, mooted by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, is a plan to build infrastructure such as roads, railways, ports and industrial hubs to connect some 65 countries, across Asia, Europe and Africa. Southeast Asia will benefit from the Belt and Road Initiative. ASEAN’s development plans, including ASEAN Community Vision 2025, AEC Blueprint 2025 and Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025, are highly compatible with the objectives of China’s Belt and Road Initiativ