Nearly 200-country study shows China’s Belt and Road Initiative cuts debt and corruption

A study analysing data from hundreds of countries and regions suggests China’s Belt and Road Initiative is linked to better governance and economic development, according to researchers from Nanjing University.

They found the trade and investment scheme – which spans Africa, Asia, Europe and beyond – was also associated with improved corruption control and that it reduced debt risks.

The team – from the university’s Centre for Asia-Pacific Development Studies and led by Mao Weizhun – said their findings challenged characterisations of the trade and infrastructure initiative as a “failure”, “vulnerability trap”, “road of corruption” or a “debt trap”.

They published their research in the peer-reviewed Chinese journal Quarterly Journal of International Politics in late July.

The study involved analysis of data from 197 countries and regions between 2000 and 2023. That included 146 countries that signed belt and road cooperation agreements with China and 135 countries where belt and road infrastructure projects had been launched or completed.

Critics have said the initiative – launched in 2013 – lacks transparency, that the projects fuel unsustainable debt, exploit workers, cause environmental damage and are used by Beijing to wield influence.