China's 'Belt & Road' Initiative: 23 things you want to know

Turkmenistan has been a major beneficiary of the Belt and Road Initiative, bringing its vast natural resources to market via the Central Asia-China Gas Pipeline, like the one pictured above. China and Turkmenistan agreed on a framework to provide China with a long-term supply of gas in 2006. Three major pipelines are already in operation. However, the fourth, under construction, was recently put on hold indefinitely amid reports of sagging demand for fuel. The line was to connect Beyneu on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea to Turpan in Xinjiang, China, and provide China with an additional 15 billion cubic metres on top of the 55 billion cubic metres it already imports from Turkmenistan.