Category: Publications

FAQs: The Chinese Loans to Africa Database

By Diego Morro From 2000-2023, China’s development finance institutions (DFIs), the China Development Bank (CDB) and the Export-Import Bank of China (CHEXIM), and other Chinese commercial lenders provided approximately $182.3 billion in development finance to Africa, an amount comparable to the $209.5 billion committed to Africa by the World Bank from 2000-2022. The Boston University […]

‘Small’ Belt, ‘Beautiful’ Road: China’s Cautious Return to Global Energy Finance

A new update to the China’s Global Energy Finance (CGEF) Database, managed by the Boston University Global Development Policy Center, estimates that from 2000-2023, China’s two development finance institutions (DFIs)—the China Development Bank (CDB) and the Export-Import Bank of China (CHEXIM)—provided 367 loans, totaling $209 billion to 118 public borrowers in 68 countries for energy […]

Green Opening-up and South-South Cooperation

The systemic impacts of climate change and environmental degradation are evolving profoundly, highlighting the vulnerability of public systems and governance capabilities in developing countries under multidimensional challenges.  From a regional perspective, developing countries in Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America and other regions are facing the dual challenges of development and climate change. At the same […]

Webinar Summary: Chinese Loans to Africa Database – Data Update, 2000-2023

By Angie Ye On Wednesday, September 4, the Boston University Global Development Policy Center (GDP Center) hosted a webinar discussion on the latest data and insights from the Chinese Loans to Africa (CLA) Database. Moderated by Rebecca Ray, Senior Academic Researcher with the Global China Initiative (GCI), the webinar featured a presentation by Lucas Engel, […]

Meet the 2024 Global China Fellows

By Akanksha Goyal The Boston University Global Development Policy Center (GDP Center) is pleased to present the 2024-2025 cohort of Global China Research Fellows. These six outstanding scholars from a multitude of universities, including the Ohio State University, American University and the University of Oxford, have or will have completed doctoral degrees in disciplines ranging […]

Relative Risk and the Rate of Return: Chinese Loans to Africa Database, 2000-2023

A new update to the Chinese Loans to Africa (CLA) Database, managed by the Boston University Global Development Policy Center, estimates that from 2000-2023, Chinese lenders provided 1,306 loans amounting to $182.28 billion to 49 African governments and seven regional borrowers. In 2023, Chinese lenders issued 13 new commitments with a value of $4.61 billion […]

Africa Takes the Wheel: The Role of Host States in Shaping Outcomes of Chinese-Supported Power Generation Projects in Africa

Chinese companies have installed over 25 GW of generation capacity in Africa, making up more than 15 percent of sub-Saharan Africa’s installed generation capacity. Despite their undeniable contribution to the power sector in sub-Saharan Africa, the price and investment outcomes of these projects have varied. Chinese companies have been observed to construct both low- and […]

Driving Change: The Role of African Host States in Shaping Chinese-Supported Power Projects

By Naa Adjekai Adjei In the last 10 years, Chinese companies have significantly transformed Africa’s infrastructure, particularly in the energy sector. However, when examining Africa-China engagement, research has predominantly focused on China’s influence, with limited attention given to the role of African host states in shaping project outcomes. My new working paper with the Boston […]

In Photos: The Inaugural Global China Fellows Summit in Hong Kong

By Angie Ye The Boston University Global Development Policy Center (GDP Center) hosted the inaugural Global China Fellows Summit from July 11-13 in Hong Kong. The Summit brought together over 30 former, current and incoming Global China Fellows, GDP Center staff and researchers and other key stakeholders to collectively discuss a policy-oriented research agenda that […]