Belt and Road Monitor: September 2025 Overview
This edition of the Belt and Road Monitor encapsulates key developments from September 1 to September 30, 2025. The insights presented here derive from transactional data gathered daily through Janes IntelTrak, a comprehensive visual analytics tool that monitors and maps the global endeavors of Chinese and Russian enterprises in real-time. It further encompasses in-depth analysis of the most significant projects highlighted in our “Top Developments” section.
Belt and Road Initiative at a Glance
- Total Value of New BRI Projects:
- USD 14.97 Billion
- Estimated
- Regional Focus:
- Southeast Asia
- Dominates in terms of new project valuation
- Wind Renewable Energy Capacity:
- 11.4 GW
- Reflects total investment in wind projects
- Largest Transaction:
- USD 7 Billion
- Nilai Smart City Project, Malaysia
Monetary Dynamics of Chinese BRI Transactions
Note: The chart encompasses loans, grants, contracts, and subcontracts from Chinese entities. It is essential to recognize that not all transactions are guaranteed to materialize, and this graphic does not account for any cancellations or funding disbursement failures.
Key Developments in the Belt and Road Initiative
- Strategic Collaboration Between TASS and Xinhua
On September 2, 2025, during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to China, TASS and Xinhua established a five-year collaborative strategy. This partnership aims to enhance the current level of media cooperation, including the exchange of news feeds, audiovisual material, and social media content. Plans also include joint initiatives in economic and AI sectors. - Expansion of Chinese Mining Ventures in Nicaragua
A new company, Waslala Mine, S.A., was formed on September 3, receiving concessions that span nearly 50,000 hectares shortly after securing its mining rights. This follows the recent award of a seventh mining concession to Nicaragua Xinxin Linze Minería Group, S.A. - Financial Commitment to Railway Development in Pakistan
On September 8, 2025, the Pakistani government announced a multilateral consortium involving China for financing the USD 7 billion Main Line (ML-1) railway project—an infrastructure endeavor nearly two decades in the making, integral to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The consortium will include the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). - Ganfeng Lithium’s Investment in Argentina
On September 22, Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium disclosed a USD 2 billion investment in the Pozuelos-Pastos Grandes lithium projects in Salta Province, aimed at scaling operations in a challenging extraction environment. The consolidated project is expected to yield an annual output of 150,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent. - China Mobile’s Ambitions in Kazakhstan
On September 24, China Mobile announced strategies to leverage Kazakhstan’s Akashi Data Center as a central hub for regional digital infrastructure development. This initiative follows a memorandum of understanding signed in July regarding the enhancement of AI-related infrastructural capabilities.
Emerging Project Locations
Insights from Experts
XU JIAN, Former President of the China Foreign Affairs University, emphasized:
“The architecture of post-WWII global governance needs reformation to reflect today’s global order. The growing influence of the Global South demands commensurate representation and voice in international decision-making processes to address the existing ‘representational deficit.’”
Statistical Overview
- New Project Values
- New Project Counts
This analysis reflects the dynamic shifts and strategic partnerships forming under the Belt and Road Initiative, contributing to a significant transformation in global economic landscapes.
