Breaking the 'debt-trap diplomacy' myth, forging BRI's golden future

Editor's note: Wang Yiwei is vice president of the Academy of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and also director of the Institute of International Affairs at Renmin University of China.

The article reflects the author's opinions on the idea and not necessarily those of CGTN.

August 17, 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of the first Symposium on Advancing the Development of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) held in China.

Over the past decade, four successive national-level symposiums have established phased strategic priorities, guiding the BRI from an ambitious vision into a mature, institution-based framework for global cooperation.

Launched in 2013 as an initiative centered on infrastructure connectivity, the BRI has continuously evolved.

It has moved beyond traditional infrastructure investment toward a broader model of high-quality cooperation that integrates livelihood improvement, institutional coordination, green development, digital transformation and multilateral governance.

Recent research covering nearly 200 economies has delivered a compelling empirical verdict: rather than creating so‑called "debt traps," BRI participation has on average reduced sovereign debt pressure and curbed corruption risks for partner nations.

The long‑circulated "debt‑trap diplomacy" narrative is largely a geopolitical construct, often detached from real‑world project outcomes and debt restructuring cases.

From infrastructure connectivity to institutional connectivity Infrastructure connectivity remains the foundation of the BRI.

Cross-border railways, ports, energy corridors and logistics networks have improved market access, connected landlocked economies and reshaped regional supply chains.

At the same time, the growing emphasis on "small but beautiful" projects has expanded the initiative's focus toward practical benefits, including healthcare, clean water, digital connectivity, education and vocational training, directly improving the livelihoods of communities across the Global South.

Beyond physical infrastructure, institutional connectivity has become an increasingly important pillar of the BRI.

Platforms such as the Secretariat of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, the International Mediation Institute and the Belt and Road News Network have strengthened cooperation in dispute resolution, policy coordination and information exchange.

These mechanisms have helped transform individual projects into more structured, rules-based and sustainable partnerships.