Chinese International Investments and Sustainability: Where do we stand? Presented by Jan Knoerich from the Lau China Institute, King's College London at the UCL EISPS China Centre for Politics, Law and Culture Roundtable on 15 June 2022.

1. Chinese international
investments and sustainability:
Where do we stand?
Jan Knoerich
Lau China Institute, King’s College London
UCL EISPS China Centre for Politics, Law and Culture Roundtable
15 June 2022

2. Sustainable
development
“Development that meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs.”
3 core elements:
1. economic growth
2. social inclusion
3. environmental protection
Source:
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/dev
elopment-agenda/

3. What is the
Belt and
Road
Initiative
(BRI)?
• China’s initiative for the construction of primarily
infrastructure and energy projects along the
former Silk Road and beyond
• Addresses the enormous infrastructure gap in
Asia and the growth potential associated with
connectivity
• Quasi-institutionalised through the Belt and Road
Forum, plus MoUs with individual countries
• Primarily involves Chinese (state-owned)
enterprises
• Strong funding support from Chinese policy
banks

4. BRI focuses on project finance
CONTRACTED INFRASTRUCTURE
CONSTRUCTION
MAY INVOLVE FOREIGN DIRECT
INVESTMENT (FDI)

5. The BRI and
Sustainability
• The BRI mobilises aspects of China’s positive
development experience.
• The is contributing to development – of both
China and the BRI countries – but there are some
issues.
• The BRI is not necessarily about sustainable
development.
• There’s a general ambition to make the BRI
sustainable and “green” – the fulfilment of those
ambitions remains a challenge.
• Chinese investments are latecomers on
sustainability but catching up.

6. Thank you!
Jan.Knoerich@kcl.ac.uk
Relevant papers:
Goodburn, C., & Knoerich, J. (2021). Importing Export Zones: processes and
impacts of replicating a Chinese model of urbanization in rural south India. Urban
Geography, online first.
Knoerich, J., Mouan, L., & Goodburn, C. (2021). Is China’s model of SEZ-led
development viable? A call for smart replication. Journal of Current Chinese
Affairs, 50(2), 248-262. https://doi.org/10.1177/1868102621993487
Knoerich, J. (2016). Has outward foreign direct investment contributed to the
development of the Chinese economy? Transnational corporations, 23(2), 1-
48. http://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/diaeia2016d1_en.pdf