Announced in 2013 as the project of the century, Chinese President Xi Jinping unveiled the Belt and Road Initiative ("BRI") to revitalise trade and economic growth in the Eurasian region.

Arguably the most ambitious infrastructure investment initiative in modern history, the initiative is seen as a consolidation of the "Silk Road Economic Belt" – which is comprised of six regional corridors connecting China with Europe and encompassing countries within Central and Western Europe, the Middle East, and Asia – and the "21st Century Maritime Silk Road" – a sea route from China's east coast to Europe, India, Africa and the Pacific through the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean.  

The initiative has since been under international spotlight due to its ambitious scale and the efforts to promote economic cooperation with the countries along the BRI roads in accordance with the Chinese foreign policy. Investments in the BRI continue to set new targets with increased global participation in various forms. However, as risks start to surface in some BRI projects, it remains to be seen how the BRI will move forward to navigate through these challenges.

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