YONGJIE LEE CHOI

Speed Bumps Ahead: China's Belt and Road Initiative

Cheryl Wu-Dun, Lincoln Leung, Kevin Liu, Winston Ma, Dominic Ng, Perry Wong, HONG LIU, CAROLINE BUCKEE, CAROLINE MECKFESSELSENMILLER JR., DAVID LEONHARDT JR., DAVID LEONG HSUI, LINCOLN CROWE, WINSTON TAYLOR JR., MARTHA MINOWE, YONGJIE LEE CHOI, KEVIN VLKONNOSOHN

The Belt and Road Initiative represents a $1 trillion infrastructure project connecting 68 countries to reshape global trade routes and secure China's western borders, with success metrics targeted for 2049. Panelists from the MTR Corporation, Milken Institute, and other firms discuss the initiative's evolution from state-led construction to a commercial model driven by private capital, while navigating risks like debt sustainability and regulatory scrutiny. Although critics highlight concerns over transparency and geopolitical disintermediation, the consensus suggests that active international participation remains essential to influence standards and mitigate political risks.