The World Economic Forum published on 4 May 2020 an analysis titled "How Will COVID-19 Affect China's Belt and Road Initiative?" by Bee Chun Boo and Martin David at Baker & McKenzie LLP and Ben Simpfendorfer at Silk Road Associates.
Since 2018, Chinese companies have refocused their efforts on the larger markets of Southeast Asia, where supply chain linkages with China are strong and investment returns more predictable. COVID-19 will supercharge this trend. Central Asia, Sub-Sahara Africa, and Eastern Europe will see a short-term dip in Belt and Road Initiative related activity, relative to Southeast Asia.