Belt and Road Policy Documents
Tabulated list of Memoranda of Understandings (MoUs) between People’s Republic of China and states and regions on Belt and Road cooperation.
| Date | Document (English and Chinese) | Published by (English and Chinese) | Description | Keywords | Link | Connectivity | Sector | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/2/22 | Green Finance Guidelines for Banking and Insurance Industry/中国银保监会关于印发银行业保险业绿色金融指引的通知 | China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC)/中国银行保险监督管理委员会 | The Guidelines highlight the responsibilities of financial institutions and insurance companies to apply international or Chinese standards for overseas lending | loans, project finance, international standards | Weixin | Finance | environment | China/world |
| 3/16/22 | Opinions on Promoting the Green Development of the BRI/关于推进共建“一带一路”绿色发展的意见 | National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), Ministry of Commerce (MofCom)/国家发展与改革委员会、外交部、生态环境部、商务部 | The Opinions specify various cooperation areas to become more green (e.g., green finance, green infrastructure, green standards), stipulate environmental regulation for overseas engagement, encourage application of international standards | green infrastructure, green finance, green energy, green transport, green standards, Chinese or international standards | NDRC | Ecology-oriented trade, finance, infrastracture | environment, economics | China/world |
| 1/6/22 | Guidelines for Ecological Environmental Protection of Foreign Investment Cooperation and Construction Projects/对外投资合作建设项目生态环境保护指南 | Ministry of Commerce (MofCom), Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE)/商务部、生态环境部 | The guidelines lay out the responsibilities of enterprises engaging in overseas projects and investments (e.g., mergers). It specifies specific sector responsibilities for environmental protection (e.g., energy, mining) and includes a stipulation for application of international best practices for environmental impact assessments (EIA) and better reporting. | overseas project finance, environmental impact assessment (EIA), environmental reporting, host country principles, international standards | MEE | Ecology-oriented investment and infrastructure | environment, investment | China/world |
| 7/9/21 | Green Development Guidelines for Overseas Investment and Cooperation/对外投资合作绿色发展工作指引 | Ministry of Commerce (MofCom),Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE)/商务部、生态环境部 | The first-ever Chinese government policy guiding the Chinese enterprises to “follow international green rules and standards” in overseas activities. | green development, green production/operation, green infrastructure, ecological and environmental risk, green overseas economics and trade cooperation zones – green regulatory services | MofCOM | Ecology-oriented investment | environment, investment, infrastructure | China/world |
| 5/28/21 | Guiding Opinions on Strengthening Ecological Environment Protection in Pilot Free Trade Zones and Promoting High-quality Development/关于加强自由贸易试验区生态环境保护推动高质量发展的指导意见 | Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE); “Ministry of Commerce (MOC); Ministry of Commerce (MOC); National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC); Housing and Urban-Rural Development; People’s Bank of China (PBoC); General Administration of Customs; National Energy Board; State Forestry and Grassland Administration National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC); Housing and Urban-Rural Development; People’s Bank of China (PBoC); General Administration of Customs; National Energy Board; 生态环境部、商务部、国家发展和改革委员会、住房和城乡建设部、中国人民银行、海关总署、国家能源局 、国家林业和草原局 State Forestry and Grassland Administration | The guiding opinions guide the pilot free trade zone to strengthen ecological environmental protection, address ecological and environmental protection, and promote high-quality economic development. | Free Trade Zones, Green trade and supply chain, Renewable Energy, Green transportation, Carbon market, Ecosystem protection and restoration | MEE | Ecology-oriented trade | trade | China/world, free trade zones |
| 4/2/21 | Green Bonds Projects Catalogue/绿色债券支持项目目录 | People’s Bank of China (PBOC), National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), Securities Regulatory Commission/中国人民银行、发展改革委、证监会 | Green bonds refer to the securities used exclusively to support green industries, green projects or green economic activities, including but not limited to green financial bonds, green corporate bonds, green debt financing instruments and green asset-backed securities. | bonds, heavy industry | GOV.CN | Green development | bonds, infrastructure, industry | China/world |
| 2021/1/ | Initiative for Belt And Road Partnership on Green Development/“一带一路”绿色发展伙伴关系倡议 | The BRI High-level Meeting on International Cooperation in Asia-Pacific Region/“一带一路”亚太区域国际合作高级别会议 | Supporting green and low-carbon development, including implementing the Paris Agreement on climate change and sharing best practices. | green development, Paris Agreement | GOV.CN | Green development | environment | Asia-Pacific Region |
| 10/21/20 | Guiding Opinions on Promoting Investment and Financing to Address Climate Change/关于促进应对气候变化投融资的指导意见 | Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), People’s Bank of China (PBoC), China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC), and China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC)/生态环境部、国家发展和改革委员会、中国人民银行、中国银行保险监督管理委员会、中国证券监督管理委员会 | The guidance spells out climate finance ambitions at home and in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), including a possibility to move away from the host-country principle. | climate finance, international standards on climate investment, mitigation, adaptation, regulation of offshore investments | MEE | Climate, finance | economics, environment | China/world |
| 4/27/19 | Joint Communique of the Leaders’ Roundtable of the 2nd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation/第二届“一带一路”国际合作高峰论坛 圆桌峰会联合公报 | Belt and Road Forum/“一带一路”国际合作高峰论坛 | The final communique of the Belt and Road Forum 2019 with signatures from 38 heads of government, one vice president, the UN Secretary General and IMF’s Managing Director. It lays out ambitions of the Belt and Road Initiative. | policy synergy, green finance, green belt and road, infrastructure | Belt and Road Forum | Comprehensive | all | Asia, Eastern Europe |
| 4/26/19 | President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Forum Keynote speech/习近平在第二届“一带一路”国际合作高峰论坛开幕式上的主旨演讲 | Belt and Road Forum/“一带一路”国际合作高峰论坛 | Speech laying out Chinese President Xi’s vision for the next phase of the Belt and Road Initiative. | Belt and Road Forum, clean growth, green finance | Belt and Road Forum | Comprehensive | all | China/world |
| 4/25/19 | Debt Sustainability Framework for Participating Countries of the Belt and Road Initiative/“一带一路”债务可持续性分析框架 | Ministry of Finance of People’s Republic of China/财政部 | The debt sustainability framework (BRI-DSF) is applicable to the debt sustainability analysis of BRI low income countries. It is a non-mandatory policy framework to conduct debt sustainability analysis and manage debt risks to support lending decisions. | debt sustainability, debt trap | MOF | Financial integration | finance | China/world |
| 4/22/19 | The Belt and Road Initiative Progress, Contributions and Prospects/共建“一带一路”倡议：进展、贡献与展望 | Office of the Leading Group for Promoting the Belt and Road Initiative/推进“一带一路”建设工作领导小组办公室 | A list of achievements regarding, policy coordination, infrastructure connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration, closer people-to-people ties, industrial cooperation and ambitious prospects, such as – peace – prosperity – opening up – green development – innovation – connected civilizations – clean government | achievements of BRI, contributions of BRI, prospects of BRI | MFA | Comprehensive | all | China/world |
| 4/10/19 | Belt and Road: For a Better World–Report on the Findings and Recommendations from the First Meeting of the Advisory Council of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation/“一带一路”国际合作高峰论坛咨询委员会研究成果和建议报告 | Belt and Road Forum Advisory Council/“一带一路”国际合作高峰论坛咨询委员会 | The report takes stock and gives recommendations how to improve the Belt and Road cooperation | governance, green finance, corruption, multilateral cooperation | Yidaiyilu.gov.cn, Chinese: Belt and Road Forum | Comprehensive | all | China/world |
| 2/14/19 | Green Industry Guidance Catalog (2019 Edition)/绿色产业指导目录（2019年版） | National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (MoHURD), People’s Bank of China (PBOC), National Energy Board/国家发展改革委、工业和信息化部、自然资源部、生态环境部、住房城乡建设部、人民银行、国家能源局 | The China green industry guidance serves to guide e.g. public investments into “green” industries. While not directly relevant to the BRI, it is a yardstick for China’s green financial industry. | green industry, clean coal | Bejing Gov.cn | Green development | trade, infrastructure, investment, and finance | China/world |
| 12/1/18 | Belt and Road Green Investment Principles (GIP)/“一带一路”绿色投资原则 | Green Finance Leadership Program/中国金融学会绿色金融专业委员会和伦敦金融城 | Non-binding principles for public and commercial banks to invest in green investments. The document was signed by some 30 banks during the 2nd BRI Forum in April 2019. | sustainable finance, green finance, commercial banks | Green BRI | Green development | investment | China/world |
| 11/10/18 | Interim Guidelines Green Investment/绿色投资指引(试行) | China’s Green Finance Committee (GFC)/中国证券投资基金业协会 | All kinds of professional institutional investors can refer to this guidelines to carry out green investment. | securities, investment | AMAC | Green development | investment | China/world |
| 1/26/18 | China’s Arctic Policy – Arctic Silk Road White Paper/《中国的北极政策》白皮书 | State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China/中华人民共和国国务院新闻办公室 | The guidance document to develop the arctic | sustainable development of the Arctic | SCIO | Green development | environment | China/world |
| 1/5/18 | Approval Procedures for Large-scale Export Credit and Export Credit Insurance Projects/《关于大型出口信贷及出口信用保险项目的报批程序》 | Ministry of Commerce; Ministry of Finance; The People’s Bank of China; China Banking Regulatory Commission/商务部 财政部 、人民银行 、银监会 | Approval Procedures for Large-scale Export Credit and Export Credit insurance Projects, to manage project risks. | export Credit, export Credit insurance | MofCOM | Loan, insurance | trade, finance | China/world |
| 12/5/17 | Vision and Actions on Energy Cooperation in Jointly Building Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road/推动丝绸之路经济带和21世纪海上丝绸之路能源合作愿景与行动 | National Development and Reform commission (NDRC), National Energy Administration (NEA)/发改委、能源局 | White paper laying out energy cooperation in the BRI | energy cooperation, green and low-carbon development of regional energy | SCIO | Infrastructure | energy | China/world |
| 8/4/17 | Approval Procedures for Large-scale Export Credit and Export Credit Insurance Projects/关于大型出口信贷及出口信用保险项目的报批程序 | National Development and Reform commission (NDRC), Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), People’s Bank of China (PBOC), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)/国家发展改革委、商务部、人民银行外交部 | Guidelines laying out regulations for overseas investments, including “green, open, harmonious, shared, win-win, opening-up guiding principles | prohibiting investments in areas that endanger national interest and security | GOV.CN | Investment | finance | China/world |
| 5/16/17 | Joint Communique of Leaders’ Roundtable of Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation/一带一路论坛圆桌峰会联合公报 | Belt and Road Forum/一带一路论坛圆桌峰会 | The document lays out ideals and cooperation modes for the Belt and Road Initiative. It was signed by 31 heads of state, the Secretary-General of the UN, the President of the World Bank Group and the Managing Director of the IMF. | international cooperation, economic growth, mutual benefit consultation on equal footing, balance and sustainability | MofCOM | Comprehensive | all | China/world |
| 5/16/17 | Guiding Principles on Financing the Belt and Road/“一带一路”融资指导原则 | Ministry of Finance of People’s Republic of China/财政部 | The principles were signed by finance ministers from 27 finance ministers (including China, Hungary, Cambodia, UK, Switzerland). They focus on cooperation, innovation and the important role in infrastructure. | finance ministers, cooperation | SCIO | Financial integration | finance | Aisa in majority |
| 5/14/17 | The Belt and Road Ecological and Environmental Cooperation Plan/“一带一路”生态环境保护合作规划 | Ministry of Environmental Protection(MEP)/生态环境部（原环境保护部） | The document lays out cooperation on eco-environmental protection in the BRI. It elaborates on several priority areas, including “Study on Green Investment and Financing”. | environmental protection, green finance, international cooperation | SCIO | green-oriented development | all | China/world |
| 4/26/17 | Guidance on Promoting Green Belt and Road/关于推进绿色“一带一路”建设的指导意见 | Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Commerce/环境保护部、外交部、发展改革委、商务部 | The general idea, tasks and measures of building a green the Belt and Road Initiative were clarified, and promoting enterprises to abide by the laws, regulations, policies and standards of the ecological environment of the host country was put forward. | sustainable development, green technology, five connectivities, local contributions | Yidaiyilu | Ecology, comprehensive | all | China/world |
| 8/31/16 | Guidance on Establishing the Green Financial System/关于构建绿色金融体系的指导意见 | People’s Bank of China (PBOC), – Ministry of Finance (MOF), Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEE), China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC/CBIRC), Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC/CSIRC), China Insurance Regulatory Commission/中国人民银行、财政部、发展改革委、环境保护部、银监会、证监会、保监会 | The guidance is the foundation of the green financial system of China. Although it has only indirect bearing for China’s overseas finance, it is nevertheless the yardstick for China’s green financial development | green credit, green insurance, green financial system, green bonds | SCIO | Green financial integration | finance | China/world |
| 3/30/15 | Vision and Actions on Jointly Building Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road/推动共建丝绸之路经济带和21世纪海上丝绸之路的愿景与行动 | National Development and Reform commission (NDRC), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Commerce (MofCom)/国家发展改革委、外交部、商务部 | Document laying out the foundations and strategy of the Belt and Road Initiative | Belt and Road fundamentals, BRI priorities, BRI cooperation mechanisms | Xinhua | Overall | constitutional document | China/world |
| 3/1/13 | Environment Protection for Overseas Investment and Cooperation/对外投资合作环境保护指南 | Ministry of Commerce (MofCom), Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP)/商务部、生态环境部 | The guidance document adopts a host-country approach, recommends enterprises to conduce environmental impact assessment and appraisal with respect to host country regulation, comply with the host country emission standards, protect and compensate for ecosystem and biodiversity in local context, and encourages enterprises to release environmental performance information. | BRI environmental protection and environmental performance for enterprises | MofCOM | Investment, environmental protection | environment | China/world |
