Until the 13th century, the ancient Silk Route of Asia was the world's most important cross-border artery, at a time when Asia was a major trade and economic center of the world. The "Silk Road" refers to an extensive pan-Asia interconnected network of trade routes across the Asian continent...

Connectivity is the key building block of convergence and cohesion in any regional integration initiative. Development of connectivity across any region - especially of transportation linkages, energy pipelines, and information and communication technology - contributes to integration by...