China's economic engagement with Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partner countries continues to accelerate, with bilateral trade reaching 23.6 trillion yuan ($3.38 trillion) in 2025 – a 6.3% year-on-year increase that outpaced overall foreign trade growth by 2.5 percentage points. These nations now account for 51.9% of China's total foreign trade, cementing their role as cornerstone partners.
As the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) begins, officials outline ambitious plans to deepen cooperation. Bao Shujun of the National Development and Reform Commission's Foreign Liaison Office revealed to CGTN's Li Mengyuan that China will prioritize two-way investment flows and develop new growth engines in green technology and digital infrastructure. "We're building bridges for sustainable development through the Innovation, Digital, and Green Silk Roads," Bao stated.
The strategy aligns with China's push for high-quality development, focusing on technology transfer partnerships and renewable energy projects. Analysts predict this shift will create fresh opportunities for overseas investors while addressing development gaps in participating economies.
