As a medium to long-term development and investment fund, Silk Road Fund (“the Fund”) is committed to promoting high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Its investments span key BRI regions such as Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, West Asia, North Africa and Europe, and a wide spectrum of fields such as infrastructure, energy and resources, industrial cooperation, financial cooperation and sustainable development. Since its establishment, Silk Road Fund has been operating in line with market principles, international practices and professional standards. With an increasing portfolio, the Fund has achieved sustainable financial returns and won various awards for its investment projects.
On November 8, 2014, Chinese President Xi Jinping, while attending the Dialogue on Strengthening Connectivity Partnership, announced that China would contribute US$40 billion to establish the Fund.
On December 29, 2014, the Fund was established in Beijing.
On January 6, 2015, the first session of the Fund’s first board of directors was held.
On February 16, 2015, former Governor Zhou Xiaochuan and Deputy Governor Yi Gang of the People’s Bank of China visited the Fund.
On April 20, 2015, the Fund, China Three Gorges Corporation and the Private Power & Infrastructure Board of Pakistan signed a memorandum of cooperation, marking the Fund’s first overseas investment.
On January 19, 2016, the Fund and ACWA Power signed the MOU on Joint Investment and Development of Power Projects in the MENA region.
On May 14, 2017, President Xi Jinping announced at the opening ceremony of the first Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) that China would scale up financial support for Belt and Road development and commit another RMB100 billion to Silk Road Fund. Three projects of the Fund were included in the list of deliverables of the first BRF.
On July 16, 2018, the Fund and European Investment Fund (EIF) entered into the Memorandum of Understanding on Implementing the First Co-investment of China-EU Co-investment Fund and Further Strengthening Cooperation to mark the commencement of the full operation of China-EU Co-investment Fund.
On October 29, 2018, the Fund entered into a Participation Agreement with the Asian Development Bank on Oman’s national fiber optic broadband network project.
On April 25, 2019, during the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF), the Fund signed up to the Green Investment Principles (GIP) for the Belt and Road Initiative. On April 27, 15 projects of the Fund were included in the list of deliverables of the second BRF.
On August 30, 2019, the Fund and COSCO SHIPPING Ports Limited set up an investment platform in Hong Kong to jointly promote the development of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.
On December 12, 2019, the Fund and the Monetary Authority of Macao set up the BNR Lotus Investment Platform with a capital contribution of US$1 billion from each side. Acting as the general partner (GP) for the first time, the Fund is fully responsible for investment and operation of the platform.
On April 3, 2020, the Fund and National Bank for Foreign Economic Activity of the Republic of Uzbekistan signed a facility agreement to provide a loan designated for financing the construction and development of Samarkand Tourist Center Project.
On June 18, 2021, a global investor consortium led by EIG announced the successful completion of the consortium’s acquisition of a 49% stake in Aramco Oil Pipelines Company from Saudi Arabian Oil Co. The Silk Road Fund participated in the consortium.
On July 27, 2021, the Fund participated in TPG Rise Climate Fund as an anchor investor. TPG is a global alternative asset management firm.
On June 30, 2022, the Fund and Indonesia Investment Authority signed an Investment Framework Agreement to build a long-term strategic partnership to jointly explore investment opportunities in Indonesia and enhance mutual benefits.
On July 22, 2022, the Fund’s Board of Directors approved the establishment of the Sustainable Investment Committee, which is mandated with developing and improving the Fund’s sustainable investment framework that meets international standards and supports the Belt and Road Initiative.