Perspectives on the Belt and Road Initiative

Our website contains a comprehensive dataset of the projects along China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). With the use of satellite data such as remote sensing imagery, our website includes an interactive map that highlights all the various ports, railways, dams, industrial parks, and special economic zones. We also include research and articles from academic scholars and industry experts, as well as highlighting BRI-related lectures and events at New York University.

In the fall of 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the creation of a land-based “Silk Road Economic Belt” and a sea-based “21st Century Maritime Silk Road” that jointly stretch across from East Asia, Europe, and Africa. Together, these formed the Belt and Road Initiative, which has become Xi’s signature foreign policy initiative. Over 60 countries have since signed on to BRI-related projects, and analysts estimate that China’s overall expenses on the project could exceed $1.3 trillion by 2027. Yet the ultimate significance of the BRI lies in its ability to expand China’s economic and political influence, emblematic of China’s rapid rise to global prominence.

Our interactive map provides a visual explanation of the expansive Belt and Road Initiative. It includes information like the location of the project, the project developers, the type of project, and its main contractors. With the use of before and after remote sensing images, our interactive map will show how China’s Belt and Road Initiative has transformed the landscapes of cities and towns across the world.

Our website also highlights research on the BRI related to sustainability, governance, heritage, and geopolitics. Each of the four sections is led by a scholar at New York University and features a story map, as well as related research articles. In addition, our site has compiled a database of resources on Chinese regulations, agreements, and legal documents related to the initiative.

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