Majority of the projects under China’s ambitious Belt and Road initiative are either adversely or partially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. About a fifth of the projects that aim to boost trade and investment in Asia, Africa and Europe, to further China’s global influence, have been seriously affected by the pandemic, according to Wang Xiaolong, director-general of the foreign ministry’s international economic affairs department.
Wang has said, about 40% of the projects are adversely affected and 30-40% are some what affected. The projects which are disrupted include:
- The $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)
- Cambodia’s Sihanoukville SEZ
- Indonesia’s Jakarta-Bandung high speed rail
- In Nigeria, a $1.5 billion rail project is facing delays
