GLOBAL CHINA INITIATIVE
The Global China Initiative (GCI) advances policy-oriented research on China’s overseas economic activity and engagement with international institutions in order to enable financial stability, human well-being and environmental sustainability.
GLOBAL CHINA RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT
Between 2000-2024, 42 Chinese lenders signed 1,319 loan commitments amounting to $180.87 billion with 49 African governments and seven regional institutions.
In 2025, the Chinese Loans to Africa (CLA) Database, managed by the Boston University Global Development Policy Center, recorded just under $2.1 billion of Chinese loans commitments to Africa which remained concentrated among a small group of borrowers.
A new policy brief analyzes the state of Chinese lending to Africa reflected in this database update. The current level reflects China’s ongoing strategic recalibration of its economic engagement with African countries.
Explore the Data Read the Policy Brief 阅读政策简报摘要Explore the research
Latest News & Publications
Receive Updates from GCI through the GDP Center Newsletter 订阅“中国与全球发展项目”定期中文邮件更新-
Pathways to Advance Global Cooperation on Green Development
November 06, 2026Data centers have become a key component of industrial green transformation with its ability to integrate technology, capital, policy and infrastructure. China as the world's... [ More ]
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Do China’s Belt and Road Initiative Investments Generate Spatial Spillovers? Evidence from Nighttime Light Data in Subnational Asia
November 04, 2026By Yan Wang Infrastructure plays a central role in economic development. Roads and railways connect producers with markets; power and telecommunications systems support industry, public services... [ More ]
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Global Imbalances Reconsidered: The Role of the International Monetary and Financial System
November 03, 2026By Yan Liang and Kevin Gallagher Global imbalances are back. Current account surpluses and deficits reached 3.7 percent of world GDP in 2025, up from 2.8... [ More ]
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Chinese Overseas Infrastructure Finance Does Not Exacerbate Forest Loss
October 28, 2026By Chishan Zhang At the 2026 UN Biodiversity Conference in Yerevan, Armenia, China reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The China-backed Kunming... [ More ]
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From Pledges to Practice: FOCAC 2027 and Africa’s Energy and Climate Future
September 29, 2026By Mengdi Yue Established in 2000, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) has been the primary diplomatic channel through which China and 53 African countries shape... [ More ]
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Is Perception Reality? Evidence from Cross-Language Media Sentiments on the Chinese Economy
September 22, 2026By Marialuz Moreno Badia and Vikram Dixit Kumaraswamy Economists have increasingly turned to news coverage to gauge economic sentiment in real time. However, this assumes there... [ More ]
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Perception Matters: Evidence from Cross-Language Media on the Chinese Economy
September 22, 2026A new working paper from the Boston University Global Development Policy Center developed new cross-language sentiment indices capable of measuring and comparing how English- and... [ More ]
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Subsidised Retirement Beats a Buyout for China-backed Coal Plants – and Only China Can Make It Happen
September 21, 2026By Alex Clark In 2021, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced a halt to new public funding for coal plants abroad. By this point, China's state banks... [ More ]
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Coal to Clean Transition Pathways for Pakistan
September 09, 2026By Zainab Babar, Dr. Khalid Waleed Pakistan's power sector is a study in contradictions: real progress shadowed by unresolved structural problems, and genuine potential left largely... [ More ]
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Transitioning Coal-Fired Power Plants in Pakistan: Pathways for Early Retirement and Repurposing
September 09, 2026A new report released in collaboration with the Boston University Global Development Policy Center and the Sustainable Development Policy Institute in Pakistan by authors Mengdi... [ More ]