China and the Global Expansion of the Belt and Road

China and the Global Expansion of the Belt and Road: Infrastructure as Geopolitics

In 2025, China sharply increased its activity under the Belt and Road Initiative, turning it into one of the central instruments of its foreign policy and economic influence. By the end of the year, the total value of investments and construction contracts linked to the initiative reached a record level of approximately $213.5 billion, the highest figure since the project was launched in 2013.

The growth was driven primarily by large-scale infrastructure and energy projects. Chinese state-owned and quasi-state companies actively signed contracts for the construction of ports, railways, highways, power plants, and logistics hubs across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. A significant share of funding was directed toward the energy sector, covering both traditional oil and gas projects and renewable energy facilities, including solar and wind power plants.

Another key area was the expansion of investments in strategic resources. In 2025, China increased funding for mining and metals projects to record levels, reflecting Beijing’s effort to secure stable supplies of raw materials for its industrial base and high-technology sectors. These projects are seen as part of a long-term strategy to shield global supply chains from external shocks and geopolitical disruption.

Geographically, the strongest activity was recorded in Africa and across Asia, including Central Asia. In several countries, the volume of Chinese contracts and investments rose sharply compared with previous years. At the same time, China continued to develop transport corridors linking its economy with markets in Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia, reducing delivery times and lowering dependence on traditional trade routes dominated by Western-controlled infrastructure.

By the end of 2025, the Belt and Road Initiative involved around 150 countries and international organizations, effectively shaping an alternative framework for global economic connectivity. For many developing states, participation in BRI projects has provided access to financing and infrastructure modernization. At the same time, it has increased their financial and political reliance on Beijing, which has emerged as one of the world’s largest bilateral creditors.

Against the backdrop of intensifying geopolitical competition, China is using the Belt and Road not only as an economic platform but also as a strategic tool. Expanding its infrastructure footprint enables Beijing to strengthen its presence in key regions, secure access to critical resources, and build long-term partnerships outside Western financial and institutional systems.

Overall, the record figures achieved in 2025 indicate that the Belt and Road Initiative has entered a new phase. It is increasingly viewed as a core element of China’s global strategy to reshape international supply chains and expand its influence in the world economy and geopolitics, rather than merely a collection of individual investment projects.