As great as it sounds on paper there are quite a few economists who are skeptical about the ROI from all of these investments.
But I do like how bold it is, which you rarely find in western countries (large scale infrastructure projects). They can barely build a stretch of road without it costing 10x the budget and getting caught up in years of political horse trading.
Yes but the BRI is not designed solely for economic gain, but to lay the basis of a new Sino-centric order.
The closest comparison is with the Marshall plan. The US spent huge sums to rebuild Western Europe, countries that by the 1970s began to undercut the US economy. But it was essential to the post-war US order, the defeat of Soviet Union, and other long-range strategic goals.
> Over the past five years, China’s trade in goods with countries along the Belt and Road has exceeded $5.5 trillion