China’s Belt and Road loans

China’s investment in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has expanded to 148 countries in the decade since it was founded in 2013, while investment has surpassed US$1 trillion 

BRI investment by region (2013-2023, $ billions) Total $1,054.4bn

$bn 120 100 80 60 40 20 

2013 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Latin America 110.3 
Europe 119.6 
Central Asia  46.4 
East Asia 93.7 
South Asia 101.0
SE Asia, Pacific 181.5
Africa  253.0
Middle East 148.9
China

92.6  106.0 112.7 96.7 113.3 118.1 113.8 65.3 68.9 74.6 92.4
 

Sep 2013: President Xi Jinping (above) proposes BRI. Initiative aims to build trade network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along ancient Silk Road routes

2019: China issues debt sustainability framework for BRI investments to reduce risks for Chinese investors

2020: BRI loans fall by 42.6%

2023: Investment rises 24% – size of construction projects falls to below $400m each on average

Sources: Bloomberg, Foreign Policy, Griffith Asia Institute Picture: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS