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Belt and Road Initiative

Belt and Road Initiative
The initiative spearheaded by the Chinese government and endorsed by President Xi Jinping in late 2013 aims to improve trade and economic integration across Asia, Europe, and Africa.
last updated:
16 October, 2024
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, left, and China’s President Xi Jinping in front of the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square, Beijing in May. Photo: Pool / AFP / Getty Images / TNS
Ukraine war

Russia’s overheated economy is squeezing one of its key China trading channels

Investment in Russia’s railways is to be slashed by nearly a third, complicating trade with China, state media reported.

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Global South

Opinion | China’s ties with Global South show a different world order is possible

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China-Africa relations

‘Genuinely popular’: how Africa’s positive opinion of China goes beyond the elite

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Hong Kong politics

Xi’s speech tasks Macau and Hong Kong with ‘one country, two systems’ mission

Both cities should take greater advantage of governing principle and convince world of its global appeal, president says at leader’s inauguration.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (front right), Macau Chief Executive Sam Hou-fai (front left) and first lady Peng Liyuan (back right) at the inauguration ceremony in Macau. Photo: Eugene Lee
China’s military drills

China, Pakistan wrap up counterterror drills amid concerns over attacks

More than 300 PLA troops took part in the exercise, which was held as Beijing is pressing Islamabad to do more to protect Chinese nationals.

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Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s Dissanayake makes first overseas trip to India – is China a factor?

The visit by President Aruna Kumara Dissanayake to New Delhi is seen as a move by Colombo to seek India’s support for debt-laden Sri Lanka.

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Kazakhstan

Opinion | Hong Kong and Xinjiang could be the core of Kazakhstan’s China strategy

As the centre of global economic activity shifts from West to East, strengthening ties with China will remain one of Kazakhstan’s top priorities.

Almas Seitakynov, consul general of Kazakhstan in Hong Kong, poses with his country’s flag, in Central on October 4. Photo: Edmond So
Defence

Opinion | Why China’s outreach to Central Asia will only grow

Amid increasing investments and a greater emphasis on security, China’s presence in Central Asia differs from its outreach to other regions.

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Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)

To expand TCM use, China to train 1,300 practitioners in belt and road nations

About 1,300 overseas health workers will be part of the first batch to learn about the approach.

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Digital currencies

Hong Kong’s crypto faithful favour local regulations, fear ‘unpredictable’ Trump

The chair of the Silk Road Economic Development Research Centre said the city still has a chance to lead in Web3 in the next decade.

Some still see room for Hong Kong to be a global leader in cryptocurrency, even as momentum shifts to the US in anticipation of Donald Trump’s return to the presidency. Photo: Shutterstock
Kyrgyzstan

How a new railway will extend China’s reach into Central Asia

The 523km line linking China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan could eventually be extended to the Middle East, South Asia and Europe.

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The 100,000th China-Europe freight train arrives in Duisberg, Germany in early December. The new railway will offer an alternative to the current route, which runs through Russia. Photo: Xinhua
Nepal

Nepal’s PM Oli strengthens ties with China, bypassing India

While Oli secured a framework agreement and cash help, his coalition government grapples with debt fears and balancing ties with both China and India.

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SCO

Xinjiang eyes closer ties with Pakistan and Central Asia to offset US sanctions

Far west region boosts role as belt and road gateway by opening Pakistan border for the winter and growing ties with Kazakhstan’s Zhetysu.

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Xi Jinping

China’s Xi calls for the protection of belt and road interests overseas

In ‘new phase’, belt and road projects need risk control and a mechanism to protect the interests of host countries, Xi says.

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China’s President Xi Jinping. Photo: AFP
Joe Biden

Biden arrives in Angola for his long-awaited sub-Saharan Africa visit

US president will use the three-day trip to counter China’s influence by highlighting an ambitious US-backed railway project.

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US President Joe Biden on the red carpet next to Angola Foreign Affairs Minister Tete Antonio upon his arrival at the Quatro de Fevereiro Luanda International Airport in Angola’s capital Luanda on Monday. Photo: AFP
China economy

Opinion | In a world of tariff threats, China opts to share green tech dividends

China’s ‘new trio’ of EVs, lithium-ion batteries and solar panels represents the trickling down of tech dividends to people across the world.

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China’s military drills

China and Pakistan talk security as they target terrorism against belt and road

Top Chinese military official meets Pakistani counterpart in wake of attacks against Chinese interests in the South Asian country.

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Diplomacy

Opinion | China offers world an optimistic problem-solving framework

China’s collectivist world view isn’t about undermining individuality but about emphasising interdependence. The idea could reshape global governance.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping with other world leaders at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 18. Photo: Reuters
China trade

Amid US tariff threats, can port in Peru open up new markets for China?

US$3.5 billion Chancay port will initially be able to handle 1 million containers a year.

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United States

Opinion | World must forge ahead with globalisation, with or without the US

Washington has long resisted efforts to reform the Western-centric international order. Now Trump appears poised to withdraw from it altogether.

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US-China relations

Harsh Chinese retaliation against Trump tariffs is unlikely, economist predicts

Beijing has other moves at its disposal, including deepening trade ties with the rest of the world and increasing demand at home.

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A loaded cargo ship in Qingdao, China. US president-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose at least 60 per cent tariffs on all Chinese imports. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/TNS
Climate change

Opinion | Cop29 can work with the Belt and Road Initiative for a greener future

Aligning climate action with major economic initiatives is essential to cutting emissions while promoting sustainable development.

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Climate activists project a message onto Azerbaijan’s embassy in London on November 7. Photo: AP
China’s military drills

China and Pakistan announce first joint counterterrorism drills in 5 years

The Warrior-8 exercise is announced weeks after the latest deadly suicide attack targeting Chinese workers in the country.

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China-Africa relations

Do the Communist Party’s ties in Africa pay economic dividends for China?

China’s Communist Party maintains relations with more than 100 political parties across the continent.

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G20

G20 summit begins with Brazilian host laying out ambitious global priorities

Anti-poverty agenda set by Brazil’s leader gains some initial support, but progress is threatened by instability and conflict around the world.

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The G20 Summit opens on Monday at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro. Photo: EPA-EFE
Brazil

Xi Jinping touts shared views with Brazil on Ukraine, other matters ahead of G20

Xi says six-point Ukraine framework gets ‘a positive response from the international community’, even though Zelensky has rejected it.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping is seen at the Apec Economic Cooperation forum summit in Lima on Saturday. Photo: Kyodo
US-China relations

Apec statement calls for enhanced free trade, climate action

Leaders statement on comes despite deep scepticism on trade from incoming US president-elect Trump.

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US-China relations

Xi touts China as globalisation leader, draws contrast with US under Trump

Shared growth stressed on Apec sidelines in Peru as Chinese leader tells CEOs that Beijing’s economic and financial woes can be fixed.

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