The value of Chinese companies’ new investment and construction contracts in Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partner countries has hit a record high this year, the Financial Times reported on Thursday, citing a study by Australia’s Griffith University and the Green Finance & Development Center in Beijing. The growth observed this year highlights the enduring vitality and potential of the BRI, which is increasingly serving as a catalyst in enhancing the local industrial ecosystem, particularly in the green industry sector.
While different research findings may vary due to differing methodologies, this does not diminish the assessment of the BRI’s dynamism. According to the Financial Times, other researchers also said their calculations showed an increase in BRI deals. Notably, some analysts have observed that, beyond lending, China’s direct investments in BRI partner countries have seen rapid growth this year.
China’s non-financial direct investment in countries participating in the BRI totaled $15.52 billion in the first five months of this year, up 20.8 percent year-on-year, data from the Ministry of Commerce showed. This double-digit growth is noteworthy, especially against the backdrop of a global trend toward sluggish investment.
