This site is for faculty, staff, and students across Duke Campuses interested in work on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and other aspects of China's investment in infrastructure and development. Please check out the events and projects undertaken by Duke University members.
In 2013, the Government of China announced its vision for the creation of the 21st century Silk Road and momentum around this massive international infrastructure development program has been building ever since. The new Silk Road program, termed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is a significant international initiative with global support and investment. Total estimated investment in BRI are reportedly on the scale of US$1 trillion dollars. This effort in many ways is a continuation and acceleration of China’s ongoing investment around the world.
According to the Belt and Road Portal website, there are currently 68 countries involved, though other sources report only 65 countries. The BRI currently includes infrastructure projects such as: roads and highways, trains, energy infrastructure (power stations, wind farms, oil pipelines etc.), ports, extractive industry infrastructure (mines, logging), and information technology infrastructure. This effort may expand over time. More information can be found here.
