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Belt and Road Initiative

Belt and Road Initiative
The initiative spearheaded by the Chinese government and endorsed by President Xi Jinping in late 2013 aims to improve trade and economic integration across Asia, Europe, and Africa.
Engineers at the Kamoa-Kakula copper mine, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Photo: Liu Heung-shing
Photography

The human faces of China’s belt and road strategy, through Liu Heung-shing’s lens

The Pulitzer-winning Hong Kong photojournalist trades megaproject metrics for intimate portraits of how China’s new Silk Road is rewiring everyday lives.

Hong Kong economy

Mainland Chinese firms on Hong Kong-led Central Asia trip ‘eye city listing’

Belt and Road: Exclusives

Exclusive | Hong Kong and Shenzhen perfect end points for modern Silk Road: top economist

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Mainland China

Cabo Verde wows at World Cup – with an economic assist from China

From boots to building a stadium, China played a vital role in helping the West African nation qualify for football’s biggest tournament.

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Cabo Verde's football team arrive home in Praia yesterday from the United States and celebrate with their supporters despite their exit from the Fifa World Cup 2026 following a 3-2 extra-time defeat to Argentina. Photo: Reuters
China-Africa relations

China’s port role in Africa extends far beyond docks: study

The Africa Centre for Strategic Studies says Chinese firms are deeply embedded across the continent’s maritime networks.

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Central Asia

Opinion | In today’s ‘great game’, Central Asian nations are no longer prizes to be won

Instead of being caught between great powers, the five Central Asian nations are using hegemonic rivalries to advance their own interests.

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China trade

China opens new Central Asia rail link to strengthen supply chain resilience

Beijing’s push to develop a transcontinental rail network has reduced exposure to naval chokepoints, analyst says.

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The new route comes as China continues to expand its overland trade network across Central Asia and beyond. Photo: Handout
China trade

China cuts through Russia, Mideast instability with alternate cargo route

Middle Corridor through Kazakhstan and across Caspian Sea would have transit time of 15 to 18 days, compared with 45 to 60 for ocean routes.

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Kazakhstan

China, Kazakhstan target deeper ties in minerals and energy at ‘Summer Davos’

At the high-profile forum, Beijing expressed its willingness to work with Astana on deepening cooperation in energy and mineral resources.

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Education in Hong Kong

Letters | Hong Kong excels at educating its youth. Now it must create the jobs to match

Readers discuss tapping the city’s competitive edge to expand opportunities abroad, the need for EV battery recycling plants, and reducing data centres’ carbon and water footprints.

Students sit for the DSE Chinese language paper on April 9. Photo: Handout / SCMP Pictures
Asean

Opinion | Beyond geopolitics: for Asean, China is a structural reality

Faced with the structural reality of China, Southeast Asia is trying to turn it into an advantage without losing control of its choices.

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China and Asean sign a free-trade upgrade protocol in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on October 28, 2025. Photo: Xinhua
Hong Kong economy

HKEX, Kazakhstan’s AIFC explore dual listings with miners after landmark debut

Head of Astana’s special financial zone says deals signed with Hong Kong during John Lee’s visit mark ‘important milestone’ for cooperation.

Diplomacy

Outside In | Central Asia is finally coming into its own

The region’s five countries, inadvertent beneficiaries of Chinese infrastructure investment, then wars and tariffs elsewhere, are finding their feet.

Hong Kong economy

Kazakhstan bank turns to Hong Kong as gateway to offshore renminbi finance

Chinese-backed Altyn Bank says Kazakh investors are turning to Hong Kong dim sum bonds to raise long-term capital for regional infrastructure.

Hong Kong is the world’s largest offshore renminbi liquidity hub. Photo: Photo: AFP
Hong Kong economy

Opinion | Why Hong Kong and Kazakhstan are drawing closer

As Kazakhstan seeks to diversify its financial partnerships and deepen engagement with China, Hong Kong’s offerings stand out.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu visits the Astana Hub to learn about the latest Kazakh developments in artificial intelligence on June 1, in Kazakhstan. Photo: ISD
US-China relations

The new Panama? Why Nicaragua could be next front in US-China influence battle

Beijing could move to build an alternative to the Panama Canal in Nicaragua, before the US gets involved, scholar warns.

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Japan

Macroscope | The problem with Japan’s bid to strengthen energy security, supply chains

By competing rather than dovetailing with the Belt and Road Initiative, the joint project with the World Bank reflects increasing regional fragmentation.

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China-Latin America relations

Opinion | China’s economic inroads in Latin America are hitting political walls

China’s economic gains in the Americas are real, but Donald Trump’s return to the White House shows that political success is another story.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
Hong Kong economy

Direct Hong Kong-Almaty flights ‘will save travellers 10 hours, draw tourists’

Lawmakers say new route set to be launched next year will strengthen business ties and bring tourists to Hong Kong shores, with visa-free access under discussion.

Hong Kong economy

MTR Corp boss Jacob Kam elected chairman of Hong Kong’s largest business chamber

Kam takes over as head of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce for one-year term.

China food security

Opinion | How Asian food security is shifting away from the West

The platform offers a future where Asian nations are less dependent on maritime chokepoints and Western-aligned supply chains.

Kazakh Agriculture Vice-Minister Yermek Kenzhekhanuly (left) and Liu Huanxin, head of China’s National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, pose at the signing for the creation of a grain-trading platform, in Astana, Kazakhstan, on May 21. Photo: Handout
Hong Kong economy

Make use of Hong Kong’s advantages, John Lee urges Kazakhstan leaders, companies

Lee meets President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev as delegation seals wide range of partnership deals on first day of Central Asia trip.

John Lee (left) meets the president of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, on the first day of his trip. Photo: ISD
Science

How Chinese green tech and investment are reshaping the Central Asian landscape

As the belt and road pivots towards clean energy, Kazakhstan and its neighbours are emerging as top partners for Beijing-backed projects.

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China-Latin America relations

Panama rejects US pressure claims as it seeks to ease China tensions

Panamanian president looks to defuse issues with Beijing as South American country attempts to renew key China maritime agreement.

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Hong Kong economy

China Mobile plans fresh Central Asia link to Hong Kong submarine cable network

Telecoms giant’s announcement comes ahead of Hong Kong leader John Lee’s first official visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in early June.

Telecoms giant China Mobile International is planning another route to connect terrestrial cables in Central Asia with Hong Kong’s submarine network. Photo: Handout
Hong Kong economy

Private equity firm Templewater primed as Hong Kong deepens Central Asia ties

Chairman Cliff Zhang says company positioning itself as ‘superconnector’ to channel Middle East funds into emerging market amid volatility elsewhere.

A view of the presidential palace in Astana, Kazakhstan. Photo: Getty Images
Alibaba

‘Sharif speed’ meets Qwen AI: how Alibaba sealed a sweeping deal with Pakistan

Chairman Joe Tsai uses firm’s mobile AI tool to draft a sweeping tech pact in moments, as ‘frontier technologies’ increasingly enter the global limelight.

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Asean

China’s new US$10.7 billion canal near completion to boost Asean trade links

The Pinglu Canal – a US$10 billion waterway connecting China’s heartlands to the Gulf of Tonkin – will begin trial operations as soon as September.

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