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New Trends in Chinese Overseas Development Finance

by Eric Olander

In less than six years, China’s financing of overseas energy projects in the Global South plunged from $35 billion to zero, according to new data released this week from Boston University’s Global Development Policy Center. BU’s findings mirror a broader pullback in official Chinese lending in other sectors as well, indicating a profound change in Chinese international development finance.

To be sure, China is still extending loans to developing countries but they’re smaller and require much more rigorous feasibility studies.

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