China's Belt and Road Initiative
What it is
Announced by Xi Jinping in Astana on 7 September 2013, China's Belt and Road Initiative finances ports, railways, highways, power plants and new urban districts across more than 150 partner countries. Funded largely through Chinese state banks and built by Chinese contractors, it became the largest infrastructure programme in history and a vehicle for exporting Chinese construction standards and urban models. Flagship projects include port-cities and special economic zones along maritime and overland corridors. The scale of lending also raised debates about debt sustainability in recipient states.
Why it matters
It reshaped Global-South urbanisation through Chinese-built transport corridors, port-cities and special zones. By directing where infrastructure and investment land, it has influenced where and how new cities and urban growth take shape.
Plans it shaped
- New Town Kolkata (Rajarhat) (1999–)
- Johor Iskandar Malaysia (2006–)
- Kuwait Madinat al-Hareer (Silk City) Plan (2006–)
- Bahrain National Plan 2030 (2008)
- Dholera SIR (2009–)
- Bengaluru Peripheral Ring Road & STRR (2010s–)
- Duqm Special Economic Zone Plan (Oman) (2011–)
- Nova Cidade de Kilamba (Luanda) (2011–)
- Konza Technopolis (Kenya) (2012–)
- Forest City (Johor, Malaysia) Masterplan (2014–)
- Addis LRT Corridor Plans (2015–)
- Egypt New Administrative Capital (NAC) (2015–)