Beijing’s ambition of reviving trade along the ancient Silk Road is rapidly opening up new markets to Chinese investors looking for opportunities away from their slowing domestic economy.
Chinese outbound direct investment in the dozens of countries in Asia and eastern Europe that joined the “One Belt, One Road” initiative has soared since President Xi Jinping first hinted at the Silk Road narrative in 2013.
Chinese investors announced 315 greenfield investments with a combined value of $75.9bn across Belt and Road countries in the 18 months to June 2016, twice as much as in the previous 18 months, according to figures from greenfield investment monitor fDi Markets.