A journal called "China and the World: Ancient and Modern Silk Road" was launched here Thursday at the National University of Singapore, making it one of the first international English journals on China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The journal is designed to provide a comprehensive analysis of the historical, cultural, social, economic and political impact of initiatives like the BRI, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

The journal is published by the World Scientific Publishing, a leading independent publisher of books and journals for the scholarly, research and professional communities. Headquartered in Singapore, it has offices in New Jersey, London, Munich, Geneva, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Taipei, Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin.

Chairman of the publishing house Kok Khoo Phua delivered the opening remarks at the launch, calling the journal "a timely and important addition" to scholars as well as to the general public who are keen on tracking China's developments.

Following that, Belal E Baaquie from the International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance and one of the journal's contributors, noted that "Given the importance of China, it is crucial for Singapore, ASEAN, and the world at large to have a proper understanding of China's future trajectory (so that) there are better chances of successful cooperation for mutual prosperity," he said.

For instance, for exporters of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and investors to benefit from China's market and the BRI, it is crucial to develop a long term strategy to maintain ASEAN's independence while engaging in a "win-win" relation with China, he said.