Economy

China is making clear that it values its strategic partnership with Pakistan for the sake of its own regional interests.
Belt and Road

China defends Pakistan by vetoing Kashmir bombing resolution

India fails to brand Masood Azhar a terrorist as Beijing prioritizes Belt and Road

15 March 2019
All mobile phones sold in Nepal are made in China and the Chinese WeChat application is the most popular means of communication. (Photo by Tom Vater)
Belt and Road

Belt and Road reaches Nepal's wild north, winning China influence

Highways, bridges and dams flow from infrastructure bonanza

9 March 2019
Imran Khan's government must develop a bold plan for inclusive, sustainable long-term growth.
Opinion

Pakistan must end damaging dependency on IMF

After 21 assistance programs in 60 years, time to create sustainable economic growth

26 February 2019
Nepal's existing rail link with India will be one of few parts of the network to use its southern neighbor's favored broad gauge. (Photo by Yuji Kuronuma)
International relations

Nepal hitches railway to Chinese standards in blow to India

Himalayan nation will use a Beijing-favored gauge except at southern border

22 February 2019
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, right, greets Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Khan government has built a relationship of mutual support with Riyadh.
International relations

Saudi crown prince plots diplomatic comeback with Pakistan aid

Mohammed bin Salman plays to friendly crowds to move past Khashoggi scandal

19 February 2019
China-backed coal plants are helping to provide Pakistan with much-needed power but they are also raising environmental concerns locally.
International relations

China-backed coal projects raise heat in Pakistan

Lack of disclosure on Belt and Road plans spurs environmental fears

13 February 2019
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan visited Beijing in November to request financial help.
International relations

China's disappointing aid offer dashes Pakistan's hope of debt rescue

Loans Beijing promised fell short of what Islamabad needs to build up reserves

11 February 2019
© Illustration by Eric Chow
Asia Insight

China runs into Belt and Road barriers in South Asia

Countries try to slow Beijing's advance without provoking hostility

5 February 2019
China has poured huge amounts of money into developing the port of Gwadar, a key hub in its China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, but Pakistan has now opened the door for Saudi investment in an oil refinery in the area, stoking tensions.
International relations

Saudi investment in Pakistan stokes tensions with China

Riyadh's billion dollar refinery projects in Gwadar seen irking Beijing

28 January 2019
Central Bank of Sri Lanka Gov. Indrajit Coomaraswamy expects the Indian Ocean tug of war between China and India to help his country secure aid. (Photo by Yuji Kuronuma)
Interview

Sri Lanka set to avert debt crisis this year: central bank chief

South Asian island plays balancing act to secure bailouts from China and India

27 January 2019
Sri Lanka is in dire straits as the debt-strapped country confronts a looming balance of payment crisis.
Economy

Sri Lanka seeks regional bailout as balance of payments crisis looms

Colombo looks to India and China for financial assistance and renegotiates with IMF

21 January 2019
Emerging economies across Asia have long had a relatively low ratio of government debt to gross domestic product.
Economy

Public debt in emerging Asia creeps past 50% of GDP

Region opens fiscal taps, but borrowing could spell trouble in next slowdown

21 January 2019
The gateway to Hambantota port in Sri Lanka, now controlled by the Chinese. (Photo by Yuji Kuronuma)
Economy

Sri Lanka taps forex reserve to whittle down debt

Billions more owed this year, much of it to China, after market fundraising fails

16 January 2019
A man shops for grocery items at a store in Peshawar, Pakistan. Indonesia is tapping Muslim markets such as Pakistan as export destinations.
Economy

Indonesia doubles trade missions to Muslim markets in export push

Widodo promotes textiles, footwear and train cars, competing with Chinese goods

15 January 2019
A controversial bidding process has resulted in a contract for a dam project in Pakistan going to a consortium that includes a company founded by one of Prime Minister Imran Khan's advisers. The dam seen here is from a file photo.
Belt and Road

Pakistan dam in spotlight as contract goes to former China critic

PM Khan's adviser faces conflict of interest cries after family company wins bid

11 January 2019
Garment factory workers took to Dhaka's streets for a fifth straight day on Jan. 10 to protest pay practices.
Economy

Over 100 Bangladesh garment plants halt operations in strike

Wage woes stir outcry at world's No. 2 exporter, in blow to H&M

11 January 2019
Maia Santos-Deguito was found guilty of money laundering offenses in relation to the 2016 heist of Bangladesh's central bank. (Photo by Cliff Venzon).
Most read in 2019

Philippine court finds banker guilty over Bangladesh Bank heist

Dhaka wants Manila to expedite other cases related to $81m theft in 2016

10 January 2019
In August, a suicide bomber wounded six people, including three Chinese engineers, in an attack on a bus in Balochistan. (AFP/Jiji)
Belt and Road

Pakistani separatists vow to target Belt and Road projects

Insurgents say leader's killing won't stop attacks unless China ends exploitation

8 January 2019
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina knows China and India must court her. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Opinion

Victory strengthens Hasina's foreign policy hand

Election win reinforces Bangladesh leader's position in dealings with New Delhi and Beijing

8 January 2019
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan attends talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping (not pictured) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Nov. 2.
Belt and Road

Pakistan asks China to diversify investments, PM adviser says

Country wants more Chinese money in agriculture, industrialization and education

4 January 2019
An LNG ship prepares to berth at the new LNG receiving terminal in Zhoushan, China.
Commodities

Ship shortage threatens Asian LNG market growth

Vessel supply not keeping pace with surging demand for spot charters

2 January 2019
Pakistani soldiers stop traffic outside the heavily protected port town of Gwadar in southern Pakistan.
Belt and Road

Rural Pakistan voices dissatisfaction over Belt & Road

Province home to Gwadar Port says $62bn project not evenly distributed

31 December 2018
Workers at a garment factory in Bac Giang province, near Hanoi. Vietnam's apparel industry is benefiting from buyers looking increasingly beyond China.
Trade war

Trade war buoys apparel industry in Bangladesh and Vietnam

Production shift likely to pick up as buyers look beyond China

15 December 2018
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan faces an acrimonious parliamentary session as opposition members demand to know the terms of a provisional bailout package from the International Monetary Fund.
Economy

Pakistan's opposition seeks full disclosure of IMF bailout plan

Businesses prepare for weaker rupee as Khan faces stormy parliamentary session

7 December 2018
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina predicts that her government will boost growth as high as 10% if she is re-elected this month. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Interview

Exclusive: Bangladesh aims for 10% annual growth

PM Hasina says nation will seek bids for a second nuclear plant next year

6 December 2018