China boosted Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) deals 75 per cent last year to a record US$213.5 billion as the country sought access to raw materials and pivoted investments towards Africa and Central Asia. Energy-related projects in China’s flagship global infrastructure programme more than doubled in the period to US$93.9 billion, led by oil and gas developments, according to the Australia-based Griffith Asia Institute. Overall deal sizes also increased as the BRI shifted further away from an...