China has positioned itself as a global leader at the inaugural Belt and Road summit in mid-May. For countries in the region, President Xi Jinping’s ambitious and unprecedented initiative promising billions in infrastructure projects linking Eurasian trade routes is both alluring and risky, say observers. Concerns still abound over the viability and the geopolitical risks associated with the scheme, particularly at this early stage. But coming at a time when United States is turning inwards under President Donald Trump, Mr Xi’s One Belt One Road (OBOR) scheme to link dozens of economies in a China-centred trade and investment network could further draw Asia closer to Beijing.