Belt and Road Initiative poised to unlock regions' potential

For Gonzalo Rios, Chancay Port in Peru is more than just a workplace — it represents dedication and commitment.

Since joining the port in 2019, Rios has closely followed its development, from construction to installation, and has been deeply involved in the preparation, building, and operational phases of the project.

Recalling its opening ceremony, Rios said: "Every detail was meticulously planned, and we witnessed the dedication that went into making this event happen."

The port, a flagship project under the Belt and Road Initiative, was inaugurated on Nov 14 by President Xi Jinping and his Peruvian counterpart, Dina Boluarte, via video link.

"There is a deep sense of satisfaction in seeing the efforts of a great team, that has demanded many hours of work and coordination, come to fruition," Rios told China Daily.

"It marked the beginning of the port's operational journey," said Rios, now the deputy general manager of the port, located about 80 kilometers north of Peru's capital, Lima. "This was a profoundly meaningful process, with each step contributing to facilitating commercial exchanges between our countries."

Construction of the port began in 2021. The mega project, invested by COSCO Shipping, is expected to become a major logistical hub for South America, with projections indicating it will generate $4.5 billion in annual revenue for Peru and create over 8,000 jobs.

Rios highlighted the successful collaboration between the Chinese and Peruvian teams. "The structure and thoroughness of our Chinese team, have worked seamlessly with the adaptability and creativity of our Peruvian colleagues," he said.

On Nov 25, the Xin Shanghai vessel departed from Chancay Port, carrying the first shipment of goods destined for Shanghai.

Previously, shipping routes from South America to China often took detours through regions such as North and Central America, resulting in delivery times of 33 to 43 days.

Thanks to the opening of Chancay Port, the journey to Shanghai has been reduced to just 23 days.

The vessel arrived at Shanghai's Yangshan Port on Dec 18, carrying produce including blueberries, avocados and grapes, to be distributed to consumers across China.

"The development of the Chancay Port in Peru holds significant implications for Latin America, particularly in terms of trade and infrastructure," Alana Camoca, a professor of political science and international relations at Rio de Janeiro State University, told China Daily.

"The port's expansion and modernization are expected to enhance the efficiency of logistics and transport networks, facilitating increased trade between Asia, particularly China and Latin American countries," she said.

Aligning with goals

The port is one of many new projects, including railways, highways, and other facilities, built under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Launched in 2013, the BRI aims to enhance global connectivity by improving trade routes and promoting economic cooperation.

The initiative aligns with Peru's goals and the needs of other South American countries, experts said.

While the Chancay Port project is a milestone for South America, under the BRI similar efforts are being made in other regions.

For instance, in Uzbekistan, PowerChina engineers are working on a power transmission project to deliver electricity from the Syrdarya thermal power plant to the Zafarabad substation.

The project, led by PowerChina, involves building two parallel 137-km 220kV transmission lines. This includes line design, the installation of towers and concrete poles, adjustments to transmission lines, and the protection of gas pipelines.

Li Xingde, the project manager, highlighted the project's contribution to the "small and beautiful" aspects of the BRI. "We are proud to be part of this effort," he said.

With 15 years of experience in Uzbekistan, Li also emphasized the company's commitment to bird conservation during construction. "We hired local environmental and bird experts to assess the project's impact. During the bird-breeding season, we avoided construction near habitats and trained workers on the importance of conservation," he told China Daily.

Sobit Mirzaev, a project assistant and translator, praised the Chinese team members for their efforts and meticulous work attitude. "They have taught me a great deal of knowledge. I value this experience a lot."

The project is scheduled to be completed this month and then handed over to local authorities.

"Once completed, it is expected to improve efficiency of local power transmission and provide reliable power," Mirzaev told China Daily. "It will also create jobs and promote social prosperity."

Meeting different needs

Zhai Kun, a professor at the School of International Studies and deputy director of the Institute of Area Studies at Peking University, said both major infrastructure projects and the "small and beautiful ones", are key to promoting economic development and improving livelihoods, and also complement each other.

"The large-scale infrastructure projects aim to better connect countries and regions, creating an efficient and modern network, while the 'small and beautiful ones' focus more on local development needs, delivering a sense of happiness," Zhai told China Daily.

Meanwhile, the successful holding of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing in September brought the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the BRI into focus.

Over the past decade, 52 African countries and the African Union Commission have signed Belt and Road cooperation documents with China.

China and Africa have not only completed major landmark projects such as the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway, the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway and the Lekki Deepwater Port, but also small projects like hybrid rice, juncao (fungi and grass) cultivation technology, Luban Workshops, and the "Connecting 10,000 Villages" program.

"Through the BRI, China has been able to support the economic development of Africa via infrastructure connection between African countries to enable both intratrade and external trade to flourish," Gerald Mbanda, founder of the Africa China Review and a Rwandan researcher on China and Africa, told China Daily.

"It is exciting to note that China is a reliable partner of Africa's development as the BRI is in line with Africa's Agenda 2063," he said.

"The BRI brings practical and tangible developmental benefits," Mbanda said. Rwanda's capital Kigali now has some of the best roads in East and Central Africa, "thanks to the China Road and Bridge Corporation, which has been involved in most of these projects since the 1970s", he added.

In Africa, where infrastructure financing is limited, China has provided loans for the construction of roads, railways, ports, and bridges.

Mbanda rejected the "debt trap" narrative often used to criticize China's involvement in Africa, citing a research paper by Chatham House, a London-based think tank, which shows that African countries are more indebted to Western countries and institutions such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

"The debt trap narrative peddled by Western countries against China-Africa cooperation in various fields including the BRI, is a lie and feeds into Western propaganda aimed at spoiling the good relationship between China and African countries," Mbanda said.

"The China debt trap narrative is fictitious and politically motivated to tarnish the image of China," he said.

Zhang Zhongxiang, director of the African Studies Center at Shanghai Normal University, said: "China has played a key role in alleviating Africa's debt repayment pressure, both through bilateral and multilateral channels, and is the largest contributor to the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative."

China's financial support has "significantly improved Africa's economic development environment and enhanced its capacity for self-sustaining growth", Zhang told China Daily.

"In the 11 years since the initiative's launch, significant achievements have been made in reducing Africa's infrastructure deficit," he said.

Transport transformed

China-Africa cooperation has led to the construction and upgrade of nearly 100,000 km of roads, over 10,000 km of railways, almost 1,000 bridges, and nearly 100 ports, according to China's National Development and Reform Commission, citing a report on China-Africa Belt and Road Initiative development published in August.

"Partner countries have gained a deeper understanding of the initiative, highlighting its practical value for economic and trade cooperation, as well as China's strong commitment to global development," Zhang said.

In the first 10 months of last year, trade in goods between China and its BRI partner countries reached 16.94 trillion yuan ($2.3 trillion), marking a 6.2 percent increase, while Chinese companies signed new project contracts worth over 1 trillion yuan in these countries, a 17.1 percent rise, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a news conference on Dec 6.

In 2024, China has signed Belt and Road cooperation plans with countries including Egypt, Timor-Leste and Peru. Brazil has also joined the Belt and Road international cooperation family.

"It's important that Brazil and China enhance cooperation as both countries hold significant untapped potential," Reinaldo Ma, a member of the Consulting Committee of the China-Brazil Business Council, told China Daily.

"Brazil and China have vast opportunities for collaboration," said Ma, who has provided legal services to Chinese companies investing in Brazil for two decades.

"Chinese companies bring substantial development potential, while Brazil offers a wealth of resources and opportunities for growth in sectors such as renewable energy, infrastructure and technology," Ma said.

Camoca, the university professor, said Brazil should maximize opportunities brought by the BRI, while focusing on strengthening its domestic infrastructure, ensuring that projects align with long-term development goals.

So far, China has signed Belt and Road cooperation agreements with over 150 countries and more than 30 international organizations.

Dilma Rousseff, chief of the New Development Bank and former president of Brazil, has said that never before in history has any initiative brought together over 150 countries like the BRI has done.

In Asia, the China-Laos Railway has been operational for three years and is a vital transportation corridor.

The Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in Indonesia, now over a year old, continues to provide smooth and convenient travel for local residents.

In Europe, Greece's Piraeus Port has undergone a transformation to become the continent's fourth-largest container port and a leading Mediterranean hub for container traffic.

In 2023, China proposed eight actions to support high-quality Belt and Road construction, aiming to advance construction in a "more pragmatic and efficient manner", said Zhai from Peking University.

The fourth symposium on Belt and Road construction in December provided "important guidance for the next decade of BRI progress", he added.

"Looking ahead, with the newly opened Chancay Port and the ongoing construction of the Hungary-Serbia Railway, the Belt and Road Initiative is expected to inject stronger and more resilient momentum into global trade and economic development," Zhai said.

For Rios and his team at Chancay Port, the journey is far from over. "The opening of the port is just the beginning," he said.