The Belt and Road Initiative: Implications for China and East Asian Economies

Abstract

The China-led Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is set to become a formidable development programme and its implications will be far reaching for East Asia, including ASEAN and China. It will provide further momentum for intra-Asian investment and trade flows and the implementation of such a strategy will also help to accelerate China's mergers and acquisitions activities in infrastructure, logistics and tourism. The BRI is expected to raise the Renminbi's international use in trade settlement and financing. A considerable amount of financing is estimated to come from Chinese institutions, particularly policy banks such as China Development Bank and a range of government-linked institutions. This article discusses China's funding support and investment to improve regional connectivity and analyses the repercussions of China's financial commitments under the Belt and Road Initiative for East Asia as well as its own economy.