The southern route of the Belt and Road Initiative mainly includes ASEAN and South Asia.
16.3.1 ASEAN
ASEAN countries include Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Brunei and the Philippines.
Singapore has a total population of 5.61 million and a per capita GDP of US$57,714. It is a foreign trade-driven economy, mainly in electronics, petrochemicals, finance, shipping and service industries.
Malaysia has a total population of 33.23 million and a per capita GDP of US$9,945. The main imported products are mechanical transportation equipment, food, tobacco and fuel.
Indonesia has a total population of more than 262 million and a per capita GDP of US$3,847. It is not only one of the founding countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, but also the largest economy in Southeast Asia and a member of the Group of Twenty. The reserves of oil, natural gas and tin occupy an important position in the world.
Myanmar has a total population of about 52.88 million and a per capita GDP of US$1,320. China and Myanmar have frequent trade exchanges, and the areas of cooperation have expanded from simple trade to engineering contracting, investment and multilateral cooperation, and the bilateral trade volume has increased year by year.
Thailand has a total population of 69.03 million and a per capita GDP of US$6,954. The main imported products are electromechanical products and their parts, industrial machinery, electronic product parts, auto parts, building materials, crude oil, papermaking machinery, steel, etc.
Laos has a total population of about 6.8 million and a per capita GDP of US$2,353. The economy is mainly based on agriculture, and the industrial foundation is weak.
Cambodia has a total population of about 15 million and a per capita GDP of US$1,384. It is a traditional agricultural country, and its main imported products are fuel, building materials, mobile phones, machinery, food, beverages, medicines and cosmetics.
Vietnam has a total population of about 92.7 million and a per capita GDP of US$2,186. It is a developing country. The main imported products are motorcycles, mechanical equipment and parts, textile raw materials, refined oil, steel, and leather.
Brunei has a total population of about 420,000 and a per capita GDP of US$28,291. It is a major oil producer in Southeast Asia and a major liquefied natural gas producer in the world. The production and export of oil and natural gas are the pillars of its national economy.
The Philippines has a total population of about 198 million and a per capita GDP of US$2,989. The Philippines implements an export-oriented economic model, with the tertiary industry playing a prominent role in the national economy, and agriculture and manufacturing also accounting for a considerable proportion.