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Belt and Road: The projects

Belt and Road: The projects
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:
9 September, 2024
Li Xi, a member of China’s Politburo Standing Committee meets Kenyan President William Ruto at State House Nairobi on Monday. Photo: Office of Kenya President
China-Africa relations

As Chinese official visits, Kenya says deal to fund and build highway is close

Kenyan President Ruto says talks are at a late stage for China to finance and build highway through Rift Valley and possible SGR extension.

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Banking & finance

Southeast Asia, Middle East eye deeper business ties with Hong Kong

Belt and Road Initiative

Hong Kong to tout strengths in dispute resolution at Southeast Asia roadshows

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China-Africa relations

Chinese cement firms look to growing African markets to make up for woes at home

Major cement producers see higher prices – and profits – in countries such as DRC, Mozambique and Ethiopia amid China’s property crisis.

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In Ethiopia, the Addis Ababa urban renewal project highlights the need for cement in Africa, and opportunities for Chinese cement companies. Photo: AFP
China-Africa relations

Chinese firm says US$900,000 of gold stolen in armed attack on mine in Ghana

Workers including Chinese citizens were injured in the robbery in April and suspects have been detained, according to Beijing Xiaocheng.

Belt and Road Initiative

China needs deterrent force to protect its expanding overseas interests: expert

Former PLA officer said worsening relations with the US and its allies have made the task more urgent.

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Belt and Road Initiative

Opinion | Amid great power rivalry, middle powers are carving out new trade routes

It’s not just China – from India to Russia and the Middle East, states are collaborating over trade corridors as an alternative to US power structures.

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (second left) and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (foreground, right) attend the ceremony to sign a four-way memorandum of understanding between Iraq, Turkey, Qatar and the UAE to cooperate in the Development Road project, in Baghdad, Iraq, on April 22. Photo: AP
Central Asia

China reaches deal on railway project linking it with Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan

The rail link, first proposed in the 1990s, will serve as a faster and cheaper alternative to current China-Europe land routes, most of which travel through Russia.

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Pakistan

Pakistan pins its hopes on China – and a belt and road revival

Progress on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor stalled post-pandemic amid Pakistan’s ongoing economic difficulties, but Islamabad now detects ‘great interest on the Chinese side to revive the momentum’.

Belt and Road Initiative

Opinion | How to stem terrorist attacks on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor

China and Pakistan need better security and engagement with the Afghan Taliban to cut off terrorist attacks on the key Belt and Road Initiative project. China must also address local socioeconomic grievances.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
Belt and Road Initiative

Opinion | How the US can counter China’s belt and road forays in the Indo-Pacific

US officials must assess the impact of projects such as the Jakarta-Bandung railway, especially environmentally and socially, to be able to offer convincing alternatives.

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The Chinese-funded high-speed train “Whoosh” at Halim train station in Jakarta, Indonesia, on October 17. Photo: EPA-EFE
Belt and Road Initiative

Why China is turning to sci-tech in new action plan to boost belt and road

China’s president unveils a vision for the infrastructure strategy that could help other countries overcome Western restrictions.

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China-Africa relations

Kenya to ask China for US$1 billion, more time to pay debts, deputy president says

President William Ruto is expected to meet China’s Xi Jinping during a trip to Beijing for the third Belt and Road Forum this month.

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Belt and Road Initiative

Outside In | Tale of two railways: Indonesia’s high-speed Whoosh vs UK’s HS2 shambles

The failures of Britain’s HS2 stand in stark contrast to the successful launch of Indonesia’s belt and road railway. The West has much to learn from China in building future-critical infrastructure.

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A section of the Colne Valley Viaduct as construction continues on the HS2 high-speed rail line in Denham, near London, on February 3. Photo: Reuters
Indonesia

Is Indonesia’s new high-speed railway worth the hype?

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Indonesia

Indonesia gets its China-backed ‘Whoosh’ high-speed railway rolling

The 142km railway has been beset with delays and cost overruns – and some observers doubt its commercial benefits – but President Joko Widodo has championed the US$7.3 billion project.

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Belt and Road Initiative

How are China’s belt and road plans for Southeast Asia working out, 10 years on?

Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative has not proved to be the ‘transformation game changer’ many in the region were hoping for, analysts say – as concerns grow about some projects’ viability and added value.

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Science

China-Italy nanotech helps repair Church of the Scalzi in Venice: paper

Research team studies nine different ways to consolidate marble stones with patented combination of methods used in church restoration project.

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The Church of Santa Maria di Nazareth is the beneficiary of a method developed by Chinese and Italian researchers to treat marble stones damaged by time and the elements. Photo: Shutterstock
Belt and Road Initiative

‘Share in China’s growth’: top diplomat tells South Asia in belt and road push

South Asian countries welcome ‘to continue to ride on China’s development momentum’, Wang Yi tells event opening China-South Asia Expo in Kunming.

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Indonesia

Indonesia delays opening of China-funded railway amid safety concerns

The delay of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway deals a fresh blow to President Joko Widodo’s flagship project that has already suffered land disputes, cost overruns and accidents.

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Belt and Road Initiative

China’s Belt and Road Initiative regains momentum

The value of deals signed in the first half of the year passed US$43 billion, with metals and mining seeing strong growth.

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Investments in mining in Africa are an important focus of the scheme. Photo: EPA-EFE
China-Africa relations

China vows to aid Ethiopian recovery and boost ties with Kenya, Nigeria

China’s top diplomat makes a surprise stop in Addis Ababa and says Beijing is ‘willing to play a positive role in easing Ethiopia’s debt pressure’.

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Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed meets senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi for talks during a surprise stop in Addis Ababa.
Indonesia

Indonesia’s China-funded high-speed railway hit with fresh problems

The 142km Jakarta-Bandung line being built by a consortium of Indonesian and Chinese state firms is already US$1.2 billion over budget and four years behind schedule.

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Belt and Road Initiative

Opinion | What protests in Pakistan against Imran Khan’s arrest mean for China

Public anger at the previously sacrosanct institution of the army, which Beijing has close links with, could risk Chinese interests in Pakistan, including the belt and road ‘economic corridor’.

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China-Africa relations

Why Chinese players are taking private stakes in Africa’s new megaprojects

Ports in Nigeria and Cameroon illustrate how Chinese firms are shifting to ‘integrated investment, construction, and operation’ model.

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Last month, at the inauguration Lekki Deep Sea Port, China’s ambassador to Nigeria Cui Jianchun praised the financing model used to build it. Photo: AFP
Cambodia

Asian Angle | Why Cambodia has mixed feelings about China-built Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville road

Two Chinese-backed projects in Cambodia show some can be far more effective than others and it’s not always easy to win people over.

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The Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville road in Cambodia. The route, funded by China, has been giving a boost to the country’s economic growth and tourism development, opening in October for a one-month free trial. Photo: Xinhua
Belt and Road Initiative

Ex-PLA, police to answer Xi’s call for enhanced security of overseas assets

Private security is said to be in the early stages of being useful as a strategic tool for Beijing to project power and protect its interests abroad after President Xi Jinping discussed enhancing overseas protection at the 20th party congress.

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China-Africa relations

Kenya’s new government signals its intent to renegotiate Chinese loans

Kenyan President William Ruto said during his campaign he would not go ‘anywhere near restructuring debt’, but his transport secretary nominee says current terms are not favourable and the country is ‘choked by loans’.

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