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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
Pakistani security officials stand guard at a checkpoint in Quetta, provincial capital of Balochistan province, Pakistan, on January 6 2025. Photo: EPA-EFE
Pakistan

18 killed in Balochistan attack on Pakistan paramilitary

A vehicle carrying unarmed Frontier Corps paramilitaries ‘came under gunfire from 70 to 80 armed assailants who had blocked the road’.

Thailand

Thailand’s fast train to China runs 9 years behind schedule

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Belt and Road Initiative

China gets major Nigeria rail project back on track by granting key loan

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Belt and Road Initiative

Opinion | China-Pakistan friendship will hold fast against all weather

Through fatal attacks on China interests in Pakistan and Islamabad’s debt crisis, both countries clung fast to their strategic partnership.

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Chinese Premier Li Qiang with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister’s Office in Islamabad, Pakistan, on October 14. Photo: Xinhua
US-China relations

Trump’s pick of Rubio as top US diplomat leaves Latin America bracing

Long-time outspoken China critic raises concerns in region he might press governments to choose sides between Washington and Beijing.

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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 Summit: a deep talent pool and financial and legal acumen make the city an ideal partner for development in the two regions.

John Lee, Hong Kong’s chief executive, appears during the Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong on September 11, 2024. Photo: Bloomberg
Belt and Road Initiative

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

Justice secretary Paul Lam to lead another delegation to Brunei, Vietnam and Malaysia to promote the city’s ‘unique advantages’.

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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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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.

Chinese companies seeking to invest in minerals and resources have looked to Africa, but there are growing concerns over the security risks. Photo: Amy Nip
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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Chinese troops stationed at China’s only overseas base in Djibouti take part in Ivory Coast’s 64th anniversary of independence celebrations. Photo: Facebook/Chinese Embassy, Ivory Coast
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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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’.

An advertising hoarding celebrating the 10th anniversary of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is seen last year in Islamabad to welcome Chinese Vice-Prime Minister He Lifeng. Photo: EPA-EFE
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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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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A freight train runs along the China-built Mombasa-Nairobi SGR in Kenyan capital Nairobi. Photo: Xinhua
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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Indonesia

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

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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A train crosses a bridge on the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in Padalarang, Indonesia. Photo: Xinhua
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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Chinese workers stand near the entrance of a tunnel being constructed for Malaysia’s East Coast Rail Link in 2019. Imported workers are often preferred for belt and road projects over local hires. Photo: AFP
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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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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Indonesian President Joko Widodo admires a model of a Chinese high-speed train in 2016. The soft launch of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway has been pushed back to September. Photo: AP
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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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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