Belt and Road Initiative is boosting global prosperity

Engineers work at Suki Kinari Hydropower Project in Mansehra district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, June 16, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), launched in 2013 to stimulate global economic growth, enhance trading ties and build robust infrastructure, continues to transform regional and global economic landscapes. 

In the first half of this year, construction contracts and diverse investments in the countries involved in the BRI totaled $124 billion, higher than the $122-billion full-year figure in 2024, and hitting an all-time high, according to a report jointly released by the Green Finance & Development Center of Fanhai International School of Finance at Fudan University in Shanghai and Australia-based Griffith University in July. Evidence suggests the BRI is strengthening global connectivity and prosperity by facilitating infrastructure projects, trade partnerships and green initiatives.

Amid rising global protectionism and supply chain uncertainties, the BRI's drive in 2025 is notably bolstering economic resilience in several regions. A prime example is Central Asia, a landlocked area that is receiving focused investments to unlock its long-untapped potential. To achieve this, $25 billion in investments are being channeled into developing the region's energy, mineral, mining and metal sectors. This capital is funding construction contracts worth $66.2 billion, which are the physical projects that turn investment into infrastructure. This concerted effort is designed to generate the localized prosperity that has historically eluded the region's five nations, and its continuation despite global economic turmoil bodes well for its future economic health.

One critical component of this effort is enhancing connectivity. Significant progress is being made on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the "Middle Corridor." It runs from the China-Kazakhstan border through Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkiye and onward to Europe. Its complementary project, the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan (CKU) railway, aims to reduce travel time, eliminate multiple loading and unloading procedures, and lower the cost of moving time-sensitive goods like agricultural produce, which will further secure the region's role as a vital hub in global logistics.

Beyond Central Asia, China's cooperation with Middle Eastern nations under the BRI has deepened and diversified in the first half of this year, with notable progress in energy transition and digital infrastructure. For instance, after winning an EPC contract in 2024, Harbin Electric's Saudi branch recently signed additional agreements for the construction of gas-fired power plants, supporting Riyadh's renewable energy goals. 

In a similar vein, Egypt's factories are getting more funding for solar PV glass manufacturing facilities, highlighting expanded collaboration in clean energy technology production. These investments reflect the BRI's evolving emphasis on aligning with countries' sustainable development agendas and clean energy transitions, going hand-in-hand with traditional infrastructure development.

Moreover, the initiative has continued to deliver capacity-building investments in areas such as industrial parks, education and health care infrastructure — all of which are vital for Global South countries. A prominent example is Haier's increased investment in Egypt: Within just one year, the electronics company raised the rate of locally manufactured content to 70%, demonstrating how BRI projects can enhance local industrialization and create tangible shared benefits.

Last but not least, the BRI is demonstrating a heightened responsiveness to global environmental imperatives and climate-related vulnerabilities in developing nations. The severe consequences of climate change are evident in countries such as Pakistan, which faces rising temperatures, glacial retreat and devastating flash floods. In direct response, the BRI has undergone a notable green transition; as of 2025, over 65% of its projects are in renewable energy, rigorously guided by Green Investment Principles. This evolution means China's investments now serve a dual purpose: directly supporting the UN's sustainable development goals, while also enabling participating countries to bolster their defenses against environmental challenges through enhanced contingency planning and a foundational respect for ecological integrity.

The BRI's evolution into its next, more sustainable chapter is best exemplified by the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). This commitment now explicitly integrates climate resilience and sustainable development. New investments are directed toward solar and hydropower projects to bolster Pakistan's energy security while reducing its carbon footprint. Furthermore, cooperation has expanded into agriculture and water resource management, with the aim of enhancing food security and building adaptive capacity against the very climate vulnerabilities — like devastating floods — that Pakistan faces. Such efforts unlock Pakistan's potential for agricultural innovation and position sustainable growth as the cornerstone of its economic future. This is the kind of partnership that delivers tangible and long-term value.

As such, it is clear that the BRI's progress in 2025 has been commendable. Its investments are not only benefiting national economies but also contributing to global prosperity.

Hamzah Rifaat Hussain is a former visiting fellow at the Stimson Center in Washington.

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.