ABOUT 20 percent of projects under China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to link Asia, Europe and beyond have been “seriously affected” by the coronavirus pandemic, an official from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Friday.

According to a survey by the ministry, about 40 percent of projects have seen little adverse impact, and another 30-40 percent have been somewhat affected, said Wang Xiaolong, director-general of the ministry’s International Economic Affairs Department, at a news briefing in Beijing.

“About 20 percent of the projects have been seriously affected,” he said. Wang did not give any details. The results from the survey were better than expected and although some projects had been put on hold, China had not heard of any major projects being cancelled, he added.

Over 100 countries have signed agreements with China to cooperate in BRI projects like railways, ports, highways and other infrastructure. According to a Refinitiv database, over 2,600 projects at a cost of US$3.7 trillion are linked to the initiative.

Restrictions on travel and the flow of goods across borders, as well as local measures to combat COVID-19, were the main reasons for the impacts on projects, said Wang. “As the situation improves we have confidence that the projects will come back and the execution of them will speed up,” he said.(SD-Agencies)