BRI and the Internationalization of China’s Renminbi

Abstract

Ever since the proposition of Belt and Road Initiative, known as BRI, by President Xi of China in 2013, it has accelerated the internationalization of RMB in many different ways, involving financing, investment and so forth. This study affirms the feasibility of using BRI to encourage RMB’s internationalization around the globe. The situations of related regions and Chinese corresponding endeavor have been discussed separately, for example, 17+1 cooperation achievement in transport sector in Europe, investments to Africa in large infrastructure, industrial, and communications projects, and taking advantage of Egypt’s “zero tariff” in the Middle East. Afterwards, the analysis of central bank currency swaps and points out the benefits offered by RMB’s internationalization for closing the infrastructure gap of BRI, and the BRI’s providing better opportunity to further the internationalization of RMB. Finally, both opportunities and challenges for RMB’s internationalization in related to BRI are discussed. This paper reveals that the internationalization of RMB via BRI is promising. Despite all kinds of challenges which are confronted by China, the country is given giant hope to handle well and convert those into opportunities, to encourage the use of RMB around the globe and make its contribution to world’s economy.