Ten years after its launch, China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) continues to reshape global infrastructure and economic cooperation. At the 2025 Advisory Council Meeting in Ningbo, experts highlighted transformative projects spanning 150+ countries and regions, from railways in Southeast Asia to port developments in Africa.
Council members emphasized the initiative's role in fostering $2 trillion in cumulative trade and creating 420,000 jobs worldwide since 2013. 'The BRI has become a platform for South-South cooperation,' noted one delegate, pointing to renewable energy projects accounting for 40% of recent investments.
For business leaders, the forum revealed new digital trade corridors leveraging blockchain technology, while academics highlighted improved research partnerships between Asian and European universities. Travel enthusiasts can anticipate enhanced regional connectivity through 35 new cultural tourism routes announced at the event.
As cross-border e-commerce grows under BRI frameworks, diaspora communities gain improved access to regional specialty goods markets. The meeting concluded with plans to prioritize climate-resilient infrastructure and SME participation in coming years.
