Book review: Understanding China’s Belt and Road Initiative

Understanding China’s Belt and Road Initiative authored by Hong Yu in 2024, embarks on a comprehensive exploration of the Belt and Road Initiative (hereinafter abbreviated as BRI), a term coined by China’s President Xi Jinping in 2013, which is inspired by the ancient Silk Road that originated during the Han dynasty some 2,000 years ago. This book delves into the intricacies of both China and the BRI by examining the BRI in depth and endeavouring to scrutinise the origins, motivations, and evolution of this contemporary iteration of the BRI. Moreover, it maps out the decision-making processes and domains of the BRI implementation by the Chinese central and local governments, as well as Chinese enterprises. The book also assesses the geopolitical and geo-economic implications of this globally oriented BRI for participating countries and the broader international community.