Is China Winding Down Some Belt and Road Initiative Projects? “Bang for the Buck” is the New Mantra

Is China Winding Down Some Belt and Road Initiative Projects? “Bang for the Buck” is the New Mantra

Ira Singh
25 Oct’23

The ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which China launched in 2013, has been at the center of global infrastructure development for nearly a decade. However, recent developments suggest that China may be reevaluating and potentially scaling back certain BRI projects, with a newfound focus on ensuring that each investment provides the best “bang for the buck.”

China seems to be dialling down on its investment commitments for President Xi Jinping’s pet infrastructure project, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI),according to recent report.

Addressing the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing last week, Xi had said that China would allocate 350 billion yuan (US$106.6 billion) to the China Development Bank and a similar amount to the Export-Import Bank of China. The country will allocate an additional 80 billion yuan to the Silk Road Fund.

He stressed the funds would support the Belt and Road projects “on the basis of market and business operation”.

The reason given by the Beijing authorities for the decrease in funds,as per recent reports, is extracting more bang for the buck on smaller projects.

They have been pushing the narrative that “small but beautiful” or “small yet impactful” projects should be targeted in contrast to the large road and rail projects that was the hallmark of the early days of the belt and road projects.

Larger infrastructure projects are becoming increasingly difficult to finance because of sovereign debt issues and growing risk.So China is focusing on handing out smaller loans.

Examples include solar power plants to serve areas not covered by the existing power grid or roads to open remote areas to trade, reports Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post (SCMP).

China’s financial constraints

Since the initiative was launched a decade ago, China has spent over US$1 trillion on Belt and Road investments, South China Morning Post reported citing figures presented by Chinese officials.

China’s National Administration of Financial Regulation, the country’s financial institutions have lent around US$687 billion for BRI projects.But in the past one year, investments for the BRI have been witnessing a stark fall, stated report.From US$558 million in 2021, China spent US$325 million in 2022. It is also increasingly financing projects with shorter repayment periods.

At the summit, Xi said China would promote both signature projects and “small yet smart” programmes, with plans to carry out 1,000 small-scale livelihood assistance projects.He added that China would continue to deepen cooperation on green projects in infrastructure, energy and transport.