Indonesia Talks Fund with Japan, U.S. | Dec. 4, 2019, 10:06 a.m.

Indonesia is in talks with Japan and the U.S. to establish a sovereign wealth fund for infrastructure and other development projects. The fund will help cover the estimated $33 billion needed to develop the country's new capital in East Kalimantan, Nikkei reports.

China-Built Roads Spark Nepal Protests | Dec. 3, 2019, 9:38 a.m.

Beijing has signed 20 new agreements with Nepal for infrastructure development under its Belt and Road Initiative, but the recent leak of a document suggesting that road expansion could result in the loss of hundreds of acres of land along Nepal's border with China has sparked protests, Nikkei reports.

Asia Pacific Avoids China Debt | Nov. 27, 2019, 9:31 a.m.

Debt sustainability risks are rising in the Asia Pacific region according to the International Monetary Fund, however, Chinese loans are not yet playing a significant role despite concerns sparked in Australia and the U.S. after China offered aid to the Solomon Islands following the switch of diplomatic ties from Taipei to Beijing, Nikkei reports.

India Woos Sri Lanka Post-Election | Nov. 22, 2019, 9:26 a.m.

New Delhi has reached out to Sri Lanka's newly-elected president in an attempt to improve diplomatic ties. The move comes at a time when Sri Lanka is experiencing increased Chinese investment under Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative, Nikkei reports.

Huawei Shifts to Japanese Suppliers | Nov. 21, 2019, 11:56 a.m.

As the U.S. ban on sales to Huawei forces the company to turn to other suppliers, Huawei is increasingly looking to Japan for procurement and R&D collaboration, Nikkei reports.

Japan Backs Sri Lanka Amid Debt Fears | Nov. 13, 2019, 11:03 a.m.

The Japan Bank for International Cooperation is backing Sri Lanka's first issuance of bonds in the Japanese market amid concerns about rising debt levels in the South Asian country.

Kazakhstan's Road to Growth | Nov. 12, 2019, 8:51 a.m.

Historically, Kazakhstan's economic potential has been constrained by geographic extremes and uneven development. To address these challenges, the government has emphasized investment in transportation networks and urban economic centers, achieving steady growth and reducing inequality as a result, yet some risks remain.

Macron Visits Xi in Shanghai | Nov. 5, 2019, 10:48 a.m.

French president Emmanuel Macron will meet with Chinese president Xi Jinping in Shanghai ahead of the China International Import Expo. His visit follows the announcement of a new EU investment screening framework designed to shield European technology and infrastructure from growing Chinese influence.

Japan, U.S. Heighten Infrastructure Cooperation | Nov. 4, 2019, 10:18 a.m.

U.S. Exim Bank and Japan's state-backed Nippon Export and Investment Insurance have signed a deal enabling them to jointly mitigate export risks faced by Japanese-led energy and other infrastructure projects that have U.S. participation, Nikkei reports.

Cooperation Amid Asia's Infrastructure Competition | Oct. 30, 2019, 10:14 a.m.

Questions of economic development, military power projection, political influence, and global economic suzerainty form the backdrop for what is emerging as a global competition centered on the most economically dynamic region of the world—Asia. And infrastructure development is at the center of that contest.

Beyond Investment Screening | Oct. 29, 2019, 3:46 p.m.

This new report by the Rhodium Group and Mercator Institute for China Studies takes stock of Europe’s toolkit for responding to market distortions spilling over from growing Chinese investment and other commercial linkages with Europe.

Pakistan PM Backs CPEC in Beijing | Oct. 7, 2019, 9:46 a.m.

Pakistan's Prime Minister, Imran Khan, is due to speak at a high profile China-Pakistan business forum on Tuesday where he is expected to reaffirm his country's openness to Chinese investment. His two-day visit to Beijing comes amid uncertainty over the future of projects under the $62 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Nikkei reports.

Taiwan Expands New Southbound Policy | Oct. 4, 2019, 9:32 a.m.

Taiwan's pitch to build Asian government infrastructure has led to a rise in contracts from four in 2015 to 20 last year, including on metros and roads in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Vietnam, Nikkei reports

Canada Invests in Indonesian Infrastructure | Sept. 23, 2019, 10:20 a.m.

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has purchased a 45 percent stake in the 117 kilometer-long Cikopo-Plimanan Toll Road project, highlighting CPPIB's commitment to the Asia-Pacific region, Nikkei reports.

BRI Boosts Construction Revenue | Sept. 19, 2019, 10:44 a.m.

Chinese contractors earned over $118 billion in overseas construction sales last year, nearly a quarter of the year's international construction revenue. This is largely related to Chinese construction companies involvement in the Belt and Road Initiative, Nikkei reports.

China Eyes Accelerating Infrastructure Spending | Sept. 18, 2019, 10:39 a.m.

China looks to increase infrastructure investment to underpin its slowing economy by issuing infrastructure bonds initially slated for 2020 ahead of schedule, Nikkei reports.

China Encourages Local Infrastructure Investment | Sept. 13, 2019, 10:36 a.m.

China has encouraged local governments to raise more funding from the bond market than planned in 2019 to keep them investing in infrastructure, despite an uncertain economic outlook, Nikkei reports.

RCEP Could Benefit India’s Infrastructure | Sept. 6, 2019, 9:56 a.m.

China's Belt and Road Initiative presents potential opportunities for India to upgrade its roads, rail networks, and ports through bridging its saving-infrastructure gap, Nikkei reports.

Djibouti Seeks $11B for Ports | Aug. 29, 2019, 12:17 p.m.

Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority is hoping to diversify its sources of funding away from China as it seeks $11 billion in investment for infrastructure upgrades and new facilities, says the company's Chairman.

Duterte, Xi Talk Infrastructure | Aug. 28, 2019, 9:17 a.m.

Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese president Xi Jinping plan to sign deals for infrastructure and funding support from China's Belt and Road Initiative during Duterte's visit to Beijing this week, Nikkei reports.

Vietnam Eyes Renewable Infrastructure | Aug. 26, 2019, 9:37 a.m.

Vietnam's demand for energy has grown at 13 percent per year since 2000. Traditionally, Vietnam has satisfied this demand with electricity generated by coal and hydropower. Moving forward, Vietnam is seeking to attract investment in renewable energy infrastructure, such as wind and solar, Nikkei reports.

India's Infrastructure: $700B Needed | Aug. 5, 2019, 9:51 a.m.

India needs an estimated $700 billion to repair and upgrade its basic infrastructure by 2022 to sustain economic development, Nikkei reports.

China Faces Backlash in Philippines | July 31, 2019, 9:57 a.m.

Germany Slows China Investment | July 30, 2019, 9:59 a.m.

Germany lowered its national maximum foreign investment threshold from 25 to 10 percent in December, in part due to rising concerns over growing Chinese investment in digital and other infrastructure across Europe.

BRI Friction Rises in C. Asia | July 29, 2019, 9:39 a.m.

As Russia and China sign economic agreements and deepen their ties, they will also have to work through friction caused by China’s economic advancement under the Belt and Road in Central Asia, Nikkei reports.

China Leads Myanmar Infrastructure Spike | July 18, 2019, 9:49 a.m.

Foreign investment, led by China, in transportation and telecommunications quadrupled to $1 billion in the last six months as Myanmar approved a number of infrastructure projects, Nikkei reports.

G20 Osaka Debrief: Quality Infrastructure | July 17, 2019, 9:58 a.m.

On June 28-29, government leaders representing 85 percent of the global economy convened for the fourteenth G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan. In the wake of the meeting, the CSIS Simon Chair in Political Economy hosted experts including Japan's ambassador to the G20, Koji Tomita, to discuss major outcomes, including China's endorsement of the G20 Principles for Quality Infrastructure Investment.

AIIB Courts Private Capital | July 16, 2019, 8:17 a.m.

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is courting private sector investors to jointly fund infrastructure projects, Nikkei reports.

AIIB Misses Lending Goal | July 15, 2019, 9:55 a.m.

SE Asia: BRI 2.0 Test Bed | June 24, 2019, 9:55 a.m.

BRI 2.0 represents an opportunity for Southeast Asia to enter the next phase of growth. China's commitment to transparency could usher a new era of partnerships that benefit multiple parties, writes David Liao for Nikkei Asian Review.

Philippines to Monitor China Telecom | June 20, 2019, 10:27 a.m.

China Telecom's future operations in the Philippines will be closely monitored by a government-operated cybersecurity platform, as the Chinese-led consortium prepares to launch third mobile carrier next year, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

Pakistan Slashes BRI Funding | June 18, 2019, 9:10 a.m.

Pakistan will slash spending on BRI projects in the next year as the government struggles to balance its finances. These budget cuts arrive amid growing recognition from Beijing of the complications involved with Pakistan and other nations incurring heavy debt to finance BRI projects, reports Nikkei.

World Bank Head Pushes China Transparency | June 12, 2019, 9:25 a.m.

Newly seated World Bank President David Malpass says the multilateral organization is working hard to ensure Beijing improves transparency in lending to countries involved in its Belt and Road Initiative, Nikkei reports.

Assessing the Risks of Chinese Investments in Sub-Saharan African Ports | June 5, 2019, 4:56 p.m.

Forming the backbone of China’s “Maritime Silk Road,” investments in African ports provide a gateway to the region’s trade and economic development, empower China with political leverage and clout on the continent, and provide a foothold for People’s Liberation Army Navy activities.

G-20 to Sign Infrastructure Guidelines | June 3, 2019, 9:17 a.m.

At this week's Group of 20 meeting in Japan, finance ministers and central bankers are expected to sign sustainable infrastructure investment guidelines to help prevent developing economies from taking on dangerous amounts of debt, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

US-China Rivalry Boosts SE Asia Infrastructure | May 29, 2019, 9:16 a.m.

Cambodia and other nations across Southeast Asia are emerging as vital staging grounds for a new form of power struggle between China and its rivals. The growth of Beijing's vast Belt and Road Initiative since 2013 has galvanized the U.S. and its allies -- including Japan, India and Australia -- and prompted them to draw up infrastructure and security programs of their own, writes Gwen Robinson for the Nikkei Asian Review

Japan's G20 Infrastructure Push | May 8, 2019, 10:22 a.m.

As this year's host of the Group of 20 countries, Tokyo is taking the opportunity to push a novel idea: quality infrastructure investment, or QII, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

ASEAN+3 to Insure Infrastructure Financing | May 6, 2019, 9:08 a.m.

ASEAN members plus China, Japan and South Korea agreed to create a framework insuring private funding for infrastructure projects of up to $1.5 billion under a new program to be called the Infrastructure Investors Partnership, reports Nikkei.

The Give-and-Take of BRI in Africa | May 1, 2019, 8:53 a.m.

China’s hostile economic practices, military expansion, and coercive political and ideological tactics in Africa should not be ignored. However, establishing a clear distinction between detrimental and essential BRI engagement is crucial to fostering development, building common ground with China, and expanding the global market.

China Looks West for BRI Partners | April 29, 2019, 9:08 a.m.

China announced on Saturday that two more non-Asian nations, Switzerland and Peru, have signed on to its Belt and Road Initiative. As Asian Belt and Road participants view with initiative with increasing skepticism, China is looking elsewhere for supportive partners, reports Nikkei.

Solomon Islands Debates BRI | April 22, 2019, 9:10 a.m.

The Solomon Islands may elect a pro-China prime minister as its seeks infrastructure investments from China. The South Pacific nation does not want to be left behind as neighbors Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu benefit from their participation in the Belt and Road Initiative, reports Nikkei.

Abu Dhabi Eyes Asian Infrastructure | April 19, 2019, 9:28 a.m.

Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund, Mubadala Investment Co., is looking to invest in Asian technology and infrastructure, Nikkei reports.

Malaysia Rail Project in Limbo | April 10, 2019, 9:41 a.m.

China Communications Construction Co. executives on Wednesday reiterated the infrastructure company has not given up on the multibillion-dollar East Coast Rail Link in Malaysia, on which development work has been suspended for months amid doubts over the project's financial viability, reports Nikkei.

China and U.S. Tied in 5G Race | April 3, 2019, 9:25 a.m.

China and the U.S. are better prepared for the 5G mobile era than any other country, even though South Korea is about to become the first to launch the super fast communications services this week, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

China Operating Trieste Port Concerns EU | March 25, 2019, 9:04 a.m.

China Communications Construction has signed an agreement to operate the northern Italian port of Trieste. Combined with Piraeus in Greece, Sines in Portugal and Valencia in Spain it could form a new Chinese-controlled logistics network capable of redesigning Europe's industrial chains, reports Nikkei.

Islamabad Distances Itself from BRI | March 20, 2019, 10:22 a.m.

Pakistan has diverted around $171.6 million meant for joint infrastructure development projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a flagship effort under China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), into other construction plans. This signals that Islamabad may be distancing itself from Beijing and the BRI, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

BRI Countries Must Build Local Capacity | March 13, 2019, 10:44 a.m.

To effectively leverage the infrastructure financing opportunities provided by the Belt & Road Initiative, countries must examine their own development strategies and build domestic skills and institutions, argues Ganeshan Wignaraja for the Nikkei Asian Review.

Myanmar Seeks Infrastructure Investments | Feb. 28, 2019, 9:13 a.m.

Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi, the de facto leader, convened a forum for foreign businesses in the impoverished Rakhine State, urging attendees to invest in infrastructure throughout the country's rural areas. With national elections in 2020, Suu Kyi has been touring outlying regions in Myanmar promising development initiatives to shore up support for her ruling party, reports Nikkei.

Saudi Arabia Offers India $100B for Investment, Infrastructure | Feb. 21, 2019, 9:46 a.m.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, promised to invest up to $100 billion in India's economy in the coming years, including in areas such as infrastructure, energy, and refining. The Crown Prince's visit to New Delhi follows a stop in neighboring Pakistan, where he signed $20 billion worth of investments in the country's flagging economy. The Crown Prince's next stop? Beijing.

China Wary of Saudi Refinery at Gwadar | Jan. 29, 2019, 9:15 a.m.

Saudi Arabia plans to build Pakistan's largest oil refinery near Gwadar port, the flagship project of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The oil refinery, part of Saudi Arabia's new commitment to invest $15 billion in Pakistan over the next three years, could fuel competition with Beijing for economic leverage given China's significant investment there under CPEC, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.