In Ethiopia, the Silk Road Fund and the US-DFC are backing competiting projects in the newly open telecom sector.
Competition in Ethiopia’s telecom sector
Increased trade and more projects between Nepal and China
Nepali-Chinese relations have grown stronger since the beginning of the Belt and Road Initiative with new projects.
“The Belt Road and Beyond” by Prof. Min Ye
Book review: Ye, M. (2020). The Belt Road and Beyond: State-Mobilized Globalization in China: 1998-2018. Cambridge University Press.
Australia cancels Victoria-China Belt and Road Initiative agreement
Australia cancelled the agreements signed between the state of Victoria and China on the BRI ; this would further harm China-Australia relations.
The BRI at the 20th Anniversary Boao Forum for Asia
At Boao Forum for Asia 2021, Hainan, China invited the world to cooperate with the Belt and Road Initiative to speed post-Covid19 recovery.
Montenegro’s debt dilemma: an opportunity to improve the BRI?
Montenegro may default because of a BRI motorway construction project. Governance and financial matters need to be improved for future BRI programmes.
Malaysia ECRL original alignment confirmed
In early April 2021, the Malaysian government announced the re-initiation of the original alignment of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL).
Narrowing the Education Gap and Insurance-Linked Securities (ILS)
Natural disasters can threaten large infrastructure projects and create financial turmoil in developing countries along the new Silk Road.
The BRI and US rival initiatives
Washington has launched several projects to compete with China’s BRI, but these initiatives suffer from US lack of consistency.
Iran China signed a 25-year agreement: a BRI milestone
In Iran, China is going to invest in a wide range of sectors including energy and transport and help the country to connect with the new silk road.