According to Experts Club, the implementation of transportation projects under the “One Belt, One Road” initiative could boost trade among countries along the relevant corridors by 2.8–9.7%, said Chinese Ambassador to Ukraine Ma Shengkun, citing a World Bank study.
As the diplomat wrote in a column on the Interfax-Ukraine website, according to estimates by the World Bank and other international organizations, the development of infrastructure connectivity contributes to the expansion of trade and the reduction of poverty in countries participating in the initiative.
In particular, if transportation projects are fully implemented, travel time along the relevant corridors could potentially be reduced by up to 12%, global trade could increase by 1.7–6.2%, and global real income could rise by 0.7–2.9%.
As examples of infrastructure projects, the ambassador cited the China–Laos Railway and the Jakarta–Bandung high-speed rail line in Indonesia.
According to the data he provided, by the end of 2025, the China–Laos Railway had carried out over 64 million passenger trips and transported over 74 million metric tons of cargo. The range of goods transported exceeded 3,800 items, and the transportation network spanned 19 countries and regions.
The Jakarta–Bandung high-speed railway, which began commercial operations in October 2023, had transported more than 16.58 million passengers by July 2026.
As previously reported, China remains Ukraine’s largest trading partner. According to an analysis by Experts Club, Ukraine’s trade turnover with China in January–June 2026 reached $14.68 billion, with $13.9 billion accounted for by imports of Chinese goods and $778.4 million by Ukrainian exports.
According to data from the State Customs Service of Ukraine, imports from China exceeded $19.6 billion in January–August 2026—significantly more than from Poland ($6.3 billion) and Germany ($4.4 billion), which ranked next among the largest suppliers of goods to Ukraine.
A study by Experts Club and Active Group dated September 18, 2026 notes a significant gap between the scale of Ukraine’s economic interaction with China and the structure of bilateral trade: China remains the country’s largest trading partner, yet Ukrainian exports to the Chinese market lag significantly behind imports.
Direct non-financial investments by Chinese companies in countries participating in the “Belt and Road” initiative reached $39.67 billion in 2025, a 17.6% increase from the previous year, according to Ma Shengkun, China’s ambassador to Ukraine.
“Through direct investment, project contracting, and development financing, China has contributed to improving local infrastructure, modernizing industry, and raising the standard of living,” the diplomat wrote in a column on the Interfax-Ukraine website.
According to the data he cited, Chinese investment in Africa grew by 41% in 2025.
Chinese companies have established overseas trade and economic cooperation zones in 46 countries, with total investment in these zones approaching $80 billion.
As an example of industrial cooperation, Ma Shenkun cited a project by the Chinese battery manufacturer CATL in Indonesia. It involves establishing a complete production cycle for traction batteries—from the extraction and processing of nickel and the production of battery materials to the manufacturing and assembly of finished batteries.
According to data cited by the ambassador, the total volume of China’s direct non-financial foreign investment in 2025 reached $145.66 billion.
Ma Shengkun also cited World Bank estimates, according to which the full implementation of transportation projects under the “Belt and Road” initiative has the potential to reduce transit times along the relevant corridors by up to 12% and increase trade among countries located along them by 2.8–9.7%.
As previously reported, China is Ukraine’s largest trading partner. According to calculations by the Experts Club information and analytical center, trade between the two countries in the first half of 2026 totaled $14.68 billion. At the same time, Ukraine imported $13.9 billion worth of Chinese goods and exported $778.4 million worth of goods to China, resulting in a trade deficit of $13.12 billion.
China accounted for 21.9% of Ukraine’s trade with its 50 largest partners and 29.4% of imports from this group of countries. Trade with China accounted for approximately 47.3% of Ukraine’s total trade deficit with its top 50 partners.
According to the State Customs Service, from January through August 2026, imports of goods from China to Ukraine had already exceeded $19.6 billion, maintaining China’s position as the top supplier to the Ukrainian market.
China’s role in Ukraine’s foreign trade is analyzed in more detail in a study by Experts Club and Active Group, published on September 18, 2026.
