14 July 2025

Belt and Road Monitor, Edition 7, 2025

Analysis

This edition of the Belt and Road Monitor covers developments from 1 to 30 June 2025. If you enjoy our Belt and Road coverage, consider checking out Janes IntelTrak, a visual analytic tool that tracks and maps the global activities of Chinese and Russian companies in real time and includes expanded analysis of projects highlighted in "Top Developments." The Monitor draws from transactional data collected daily by our proprietary tool, Janes IntelTrak, as well as research compiled by our team of analysts.

Belt & Road at a glance

Value of all new BRI projects:

USD868 Million

(Estimated)

Russia & Eurasia

Was the Region W/ The Highest Value of new BRI projects

10.4GW

in new solar power projects

Largest new transaction USD500 million

loan agreement for telecommunication

Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Chinese BRI Transactions in USD Billion

Graph notes: These transactions include Chinese loans and grants but also contracts and subcontracts. Not all transactions will come to fruition, and this graphic does not account for cancellations, disruptions, failure to disburse funds, etc. This depicts the announced values of transactions with involving Chinese entities operating overseas, which could include Chinese funded projects but also foreign funded projects involving Chinese contractors, across multiple BRI-linked sectors.

Belt and Road Initiative top developments

China to Operate and Manage Key Government, Economic Hub in Egypt’s New Capital
On 1 June 2025, the New Urban Communities Administration of Egypt and the Sino-Egyptian joint venture, Horizon Operations Management (Egypt) Co., Ltd., signed an implementation agreement for the operation and management of the Central Business District (CBD) of the New Administrative Capital of Egypt. While the CBD name reflects a commercial focus, it will also be home to Egypt’s parliament, presidential palace, various government buildings, and embassies. The involvement of CSCEC, a Chinese state-owned company, in managing critical infrastructure of Egypt could have potential strategic and geopolitical implications.

Chinese Airplane Manufacturer to Expand Regional Market by Seeking Control of Lao State-owned Airline
On 9 June 2025, Prime Minister of Laos Sonexay Siphandone informed the National Assembly of the Lao People's Democratic Republic that his government is considering a proposal by the Chinese state-owned airline manufacturer, Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), to acquire a majority (51%) stake in state-owned Lao Airlines. Lao Airlines recently leased and began operating COMAC’s C909 passenger jet. The proposal is currently pending approval from Laotian authorities, with an independent auditor determining Lao Airlines' asset values before finalising any equity arrangement.

China’s CHEC Holds Discussions to Develop Libya’s Sirte Free Trade Zone
On 13 and 14 June 2025, China Harbour Engineering Co. (CHEC) held a series of meetings with Libya’s Sirte Free Zone Authority to discuss the zone’s third phase of development. Phase 3 will include a variety of infrastructure, including solar energy farms, storage facilities, a medium-sized airport, roads from Sirte to the southern border via Sabha, and the supply of port equipment. Furthermore, both parties agreed to collaborate in attracting Chinese investors to contribute to the Phase 3 rollout. At the end of the meetings, CHEC and Sirte Free Zone signed an agreement to continue technical consultations to prepare for possible, more concrete agreements in the future.

Chinese Logistics Company to Expand Terminal at Caspian Sea Port of Aktau
On 16 June 2025, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between corporate representatives from China and Kazakhstan to expand the terminal capacity of Aktau port, another step in developing the Middle Corridor, officially known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR). Aktau port holds a strategic location on the Caspian Sea, acting as a gateway between Kazakhstan and countries such as Turkmenistan, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Russia.

CHEC Continues Development of Jamaica’s Kingston Port Logistics
On 27 June 2025, reports announced the contract award to China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) for Jamaica’s Kingston port to design and construct an expanded logistics centre. The project value was not released, although in March 2025, Jamaica’s prime minister announced an investment of USD50 million that would be used to expand the port’s capacity and purchase new equipment. The port has increased cargo volumes by over 50% compared to before the COVID pandemic, and almost 30% from 2020 to 2022, necessitating the expansion.

New Project Locations

What They're Saying

HENRY ZIEMER, JAEHYUN HAN, and AIDAN POWERS-RIGGS, Center for Strategic & International Studies On the security risks of commercial logistics infrastructure.

“…gaining influence over strategic ports could provide China with critical advantages short of a formal military presence. Control or deep involvement in port operations can enable intelligence collection on U.S. and allied naval movements, privileged access to maritime logistics data, and the ability to deny or delay access during a crisis….Recent conflicts have shown how dual-use civilian infrastructure can be repurposed for covert military operations in concerning ways. The Ukrainian military’s Operation Spider’s Web involved drones launched from shipping containers to strike targets deep within Russian territory. Israel has reportedly used similar tactics, smuggling explosive drones into Iran via commercial freight.”