During Chinese president Xi Jinping's state visit to Vietnam this week, the two nations signed 36 deals, ranging from infrastructure building to telecommunications and trade.

After many months of hints that it would do so, Italy has now told China that it plans to withdraw from the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

This week the Shanghai government released a detailed plan with 19 measures to establish a pilot zone for e-commerce. The project aims at creating "a highland for international cooperation in the digital economy", and plays "an important role in the high-quality development" of the China-led Belt

Colombian President Gustavo Petro just finished a state visit in China this week. In addition to establishing a strategic partnership through a joint statement, the two sides also signed 12 cooperation deals, including several to bolster bilateral trade and investment.

According to the Chinese government, more than 300 projects were signed or announced at the third Belt and Road (BRI) Forum last week, covering investment, construction and financing of ports, mining and new energy projects.

During Chilean President Gabriel Boric's state trip to China this week, the two governments signed multiple deals, indicating further collaboration in lithium, trade, the Belt and Road Initiative, and industrial investment.

To celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Beijing released a White Paper earlier this week, highlighting some achievements of the BRI on trade, investment, and infrastructure connectivity. The White Paper came one week ahead of the third Belt and Road Forum in Beijing.