{"id":2758,"date":"2018-02-08T15:37:02","date_gmt":"2018-02-08T19:37:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/gdp\/?page_id=2758"},"modified":"2025-07-08T11:19:37","modified_gmt":"2025-07-08T15:19:37","slug":"belt-road-initiative","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/gdp\/research\/gci\/belt-road-initiative\/","title":{"rendered":"FAIR"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>China is, by far, the world\u2019s largest source of bilateral official finance. China\u2019s two main policy banks that lend to governments overseas \u2013 the China Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of China \u2013 together issued about as much in sovereign finance commitments as the World Bank in the last global business cycle (2008-2019). At that scale, it is crucial for policymakers and stakeholders at all levels to understand the environmental and social implications of this finance.<\/p>\n<p>The Global China Initiative\u2019s FAIR (Forestry, Agriculture and Indigenous Rights) program examines these aspects, with a special focus on land use, biodiversity and natural resources critical for Indigenous communities worldwide.<\/p>\n<p><!-- CUSTOM CSS --><\/p>\n<style>.gegi-custom .col-sm-margin-half { position: relative; display: block; height: 0; } .gegi-custom .col-sm-margin-half > .landing-calloutCenter { position: absolute; padding-right: 20px; padding-left: 20px; width: 100%; left: 0; top: 50%; display: block; -webkit-transform: translateY(-50%); -moz-transform: translateY(-50%); -ms-transform: translateY(-50%); transform: translateY(-50%); } .gegi-custom h3.landing-calloutTitle { font-size: 28px; text-align:center; margin:0 } .gegi-custom .col-sm-margin-half { background:#02BAB9 center center no-repeat; } @media (max-width: 500px) { .gegi-custom h3.landing-calloutTitle { font-size: 24px; } .gegi-custom div.landing-calloutCenter,.col-sm-margin-half { padding-top: 15%; padding-bottom: 15%; }} @media (min-width: 500px) { .gegi-custom .col-sm-margin-half div.landing-calloutCenter,.col-sm-margin-half { padding-top: 10%; padding-bottom: 10%; }} @media (min-width: 768px) { .gegi-custom .col-sm-margin-half div.landing-calloutCenter,.col-sm-margin-half { padding-top: 15%; padding-bottom: 15%; }} @media (min-width: 992px) { .gegi-custom .col-sm-margin-half div.landing-calloutCenter,.col-sm-margin-half { padding-top: 18%; padding-bottom: 18%; }} @media (min-width: 1200px) { .gegi-custom h3.landing-calloutTitle { font-size: 32px; } .gegi-custom .col-sm-margin-half div.landing-calloutCenter,.col-sm-margin-half { padding-top: 18%; padding-bottom: 18%; }}<\/style>\n<h3>Research Highlights<\/h3>\n<p><!-- END CUSTOM CSS --><\/p>\n<div id=\"GEGI-mainpage\" class=\"gegi-custom\">\n<aside class=\"landing-calloutWrap\">\n<div class=\"col-sm-margin-half\" style=\"background-image: url('\/gdp\/files\/2021\/07\/christian-lue-jvI7zrGZTAM-unsplash-scaled-e1626099369904.jpg'); width: -webkit-fill-available;\">\n<div class=\"landing-calloutCenter\">\n<h3 class=\"landing-calloutTitle\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bu.edu\/gdp\/chinas-overseas-development-finance\/\">China&#8217;s Overseas Development Finance<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-sm-margin-half\" style=\"background-image: url('\/gdp\/files\/2021\/09\/CDCN-web-photo-scaled.jpg'); width: -webkit-fill-available;\">\n<div class=\"landing-calloutCenter\">\n<h3 class=\"landing-calloutTitle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/gdp\/2021\/09\/20\/risks-to-global-biodiversity-and-indigenous-lands-from-chinas-overseas-development-finance\/\">Risks to Biodiversity and Indigenous Lands from China&#8217;s Overseas Development Finance<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-sm-margin-half\" style=\"background-image: url('\/gdp\/files\/2022\/12\/marinerisks.png'); width: -webkit-fill-available;\">\n<div class=\"landing-calloutCenter\">\n<h3 class=\"landing-calloutTitle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/gdp\/2022\/12\/06\/chinas-global-development-finance-poses-heterogeneous-risks-to-coastal-and-marine-socio-ecological-systems\/\">Marine Risks of China\u2019s Overseas Development Finance<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-sm-margin-half\" style=\"background-image: url('\/gdp\/files\/2021\/07\/jennifer-chen-lLjWZJ0UKzQ-unsplash-scaled.jpg'); width: -webkit-fill-available;\">\n<div class=\"landing-calloutCenter\">\n<h3 class=\"landing-calloutTitle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/gdp\/2021\/01\/31\/china-can-help-solve-the-debt-and-environmental-crises\/\">China and the Debt &amp; Environmental Crises<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<hr style=\"width: 70%;\" size=\"6\" color=\"#dcdfdf\" align=\"center\" \/>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><br \/>\nFAIR &#8211; Latest News and Publications<\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><ul class=\"news_list category_75\"><li class=\"post_33047\">\n<h4 class=\"news_post_title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/gdp\/2026\/05\/26\/the-growth-connections-between-china-and-the-global-south-a-review-and-a-refocus\/\">The Growth Connections Between China and the Global South: A Review and a Refocus<\/a><\/h4>\n<span class=\"date\">May 26, 2026<\/span>\n<p class=\"excerpt\">\r\n\r\nAs late as 1984, half of China\u2019s exports consisted of raw materials, including oil, coal, food and livestock. After 47 years of reform and opening, China has transformed itself from an agrarian economy into a manufacturing powerhouse.\r\n\r\nWith the country's expanding... <a class=\"more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/gdp\/2026\/05\/26\/the-growth-connections-between-china-and-the-global-south-a-review-and-a-refocus\/\">[ More ]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n<li class=\"post_32907\">\n<h4 class=\"news_post_title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/gdp\/2026\/05\/04\/why-competitive-politics-can-pull-development-finance-away-from-need\/\">Why Competitive Politics Can Pull Development Finance Away from Need<\/a><\/h4>\n<span class=\"date\">May 04, 2026<\/span>\n<p class=\"excerpt\">\r\n\r\nBy Keyi Tang\r\n\r\nAs development finance tightens, the most important question may not be who is lending, but how domestic politics shapes where the money goes.\r\n\r\nWhen a foreign-financed road is opened, the picture is clear that this project will connect farmers... <a class=\"more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/gdp\/2026\/05\/04\/why-competitive-politics-can-pull-development-finance-away-from-need\/\">[ More ]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n<li class=\"post_32713\">\n<h4 class=\"news_post_title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/gdp\/2026\/04\/13\/productive-finance-for-the-belt-and-road-initiative-reexamining-chinas-debt-sustainability-framework\/\">Productive Finance for the Belt and Road Initiative: Reexamining China&#8217;s Debt Sustainability Framework<\/a><\/h4>\n<span class=\"date\">April 13, 2026<\/span>\n<p class=\"excerpt\">\r\n\r\nChina has committed over US$1 trillion in overseas financing, much of it directed toward productive public assets that have helped close infrastructure gaps and stimulate economic growth. Nevertheless, a series of external shocks\u2014largely unrelated to Chinese financing\u2014have left many countries... <a class=\"more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/gdp\/2026\/04\/13\/productive-finance-for-the-belt-and-road-initiative-reexamining-chinas-debt-sustainability-framework\/\">[ More ]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n<li class=\"post_32537\">\n<h4 class=\"news_post_title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/gdp\/2026\/03\/23\/zimbabwes-lithium-pivot-promises-and-pitfalls-of-mining\/\">Zimbabwe\u2019s Lithium Pivot: Promises and Pitfalls of Mining<\/a><\/h4>\n<span class=\"date\">March 23, 2026<\/span>\n<p class=\"excerpt\">\r\n\r\nBy Julie Radomski, Tsitsi Musasike, Tinotenda Chidhawu, Hudson Mtegha and Earnest Rungano Chinyanga\r\n\r\nLithium has emerged as an indispensable resource powering the energy transition, given its central role in electric vehicle batteries and battery energy storage systems. For Zimbabwe, endowed with... <a class=\"more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/gdp\/2026\/03\/23\/zimbabwes-lithium-pivot-promises-and-pitfalls-of-mining\/\">[ More ]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n<li class=\"post_32547\">\n<h4 class=\"news_post_title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/gdp\/2026\/03\/23\/leveraging-transition-mineral-extraction-for-zimbabwes-socioeconomic-development-the-case-of-lithium\/\">Leveraging Transition Mineral Extraction for Zimbabwe\u2019s Socioeconomic Development: The Case of Lithium<\/a><\/h4>\n<span class=\"date\">March 23, 2026<\/span>\n<p class=\"excerpt\">\r\n\r\nThe mining sector contributed US$5.6 billion to Zimbabwe's GDP in 2022 and is expected to contribute $20 billion in 2030. Despite this significant contribution, Zimbabwe does not have a standalone national mining policy or a transition mineral-specific strategy to ensure... <a class=\"more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/gdp\/2026\/03\/23\/leveraging-transition-mineral-extraction-for-zimbabwes-socioeconomic-development-the-case-of-lithium\/\">[ More ]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n<li class=\"post_31860\">\n<h4 class=\"news_post_title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/gdp\/2025\/11\/24\/how-has-china-helped-the-green-transformation-along-the-belt-and-road-four-channels\/\">How Has China Helped the Green Transformation Along the Belt and Road: Four Channels<\/a><\/h4>\n<span class=\"date\">November 24, 2025<\/span>\n<p class=\"excerpt\">\r\n\r\nBy Yan Wang\r\n\r\nAs the deadline for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) draws near, the world economy faces headwinds from trade protections, supply-chain disruptions and shrinking development assistance. According to the OECD, official development assistance (ODA) from member countries... <a class=\"more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/gdp\/2025\/11\/24\/how-has-china-helped-the-green-transformation-along-the-belt-and-road-four-channels\/\">[ More ]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n<li class=\"post_31831\">\n<h4 class=\"news_post_title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/gdp\/2025\/11\/24\/greening-the-belt-and-road-with-four-underlying-mechanisms\/\">Greening the Belt and Road with Four Underlying Mechanisms<\/a><\/h4>\n<span class=\"date\">November 24, 2025<\/span>\n<p class=\"excerpt\">\r\n\r\nWith five years to go before the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) deadline, official statements have stressed that only 18 percent of the targets are on track, and many are going in reverse. International development community and policymakers around the world... <a class=\"more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/gdp\/2025\/11\/24\/greening-the-belt-and-road-with-four-underlying-mechanisms\/\">[ More ]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n<li class=\"post_31097\">\n<h4 class=\"news_post_title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/gdp\/2025\/08\/27\/reviving-the-past-or-risking-the-future-chinese-financed-hydropower-and-the-fate-of-dinosaur-dams\/\">Reviving the Past or Risking the Future? Chinese-Financed Hydropower and the Fate of \u201cDinosaur Dams\u201d<\/a><\/h4>\n<span class=\"date\">August 27, 2025<\/span>\n<p class=\"excerpt\">\r\n\r\nby Julie Radomski\r\n\r\nAs countries around the world strive to meet their renewable energy targets, large hydroelectric dams are often framed as clean and reliable alternatives to fossil fuels. In the 21st century, Chinese development finance institutions (DFIs) have emerged as... <a class=\"more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/gdp\/2025\/08\/27\/reviving-the-past-or-risking-the-future-chinese-financed-hydropower-and-the-fate-of-dinosaur-dams\/\">[ More ]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n<li class=\"post_31086\">\n<h4 class=\"news_post_title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/gdp\/2025\/08\/27\/dinosaur-dams-the-historical-origins-of-chinese-hydroelectric-projects-and-their-environmental-implications\/\">Dinosaur Dams: The Historical Origins of Chinese Hydroelectric Projects and Their Environmental Implications<\/a><\/h4>\n<span class=\"date\">August 27, 2025<\/span>\n<p class=\"excerpt\">\r\n\r\nHydroelectric megaprojects represent an important target for Chinese development finance in the 21st century and will likely remain so given their categorization as renewable energy contributing to a green energy transition.\r\n\r\nHowever, Chinese-financed megadams around the world have faced numerous social, <a class=\"more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/gdp\/2025\/08\/27\/dinosaur-dams-the-historical-origins-of-chinese-hydroelectric-projects-and-their-environmental-implications\/\">[ More ]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n<li class=\"post_30690\">\n<h4 class=\"news_post_title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/gdp\/2025\/06\/09\/development-finance-and-critical-minerals-opportunities-for-supporting-sustainability-and-inclusion-through-patient-capital\/\">Development Finance and Critical Minerals: Opportunities for Supporting Sustainability and Inclusion through Patient Capital<\/a><\/h4>\n<span class=\"date\">June 09, 2025<\/span>\n<p class=\"excerpt\">\r\n\r\nRobust environmental and social risk management (ESRM) frameworks are posited as tools that can, if effectively implemented, contribute to more sustainable and inclusive development. Yet beyond the ESRM challenges that have emerged from previous booms, the ongoing critical mineral boom... <a class=\"more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/gdp\/2025\/06\/09\/development-finance-and-critical-minerals-opportunities-for-supporting-sustainability-and-inclusion-through-patient-capital\/\">[ More ]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"button\" href=\"\/gdp\/publications\/gci-publications\/\">View more GCI Publications<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- Global site tag (gtag.js) - Google Analytics --><script async src=\"https:\/\/www.googletagmanager.com\/gtag\/js?id=UA-118442141-1\"><\/script><script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);}gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'UA-118442141-1');<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>China is, by far, the world\u2019s largest source of bilateral official finance. China\u2019s two main policy banks that lend to governments overseas \u2013 the China Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of China \u2013 together issued about as much in sovereign finance commitments as the World Bank in the last global business cycle (2008-2019). At [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10886,"featured_media":0,"parent":2604,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/gdp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2758"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/gdp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/gdp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/gdp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10886"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/gdp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2758"}],"version-history":[{"count":31,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/gdp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2758\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30928,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/gdp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2758\/revisions\/30928"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/gdp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2604"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/gdp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2758"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}