In 2013, China’s President Xi Jinping launched the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with the goal of linking Asia to Europe through a series of massive infrastructure developments. The programme later expanded around the globe, particularly in developing countries.

Financing these megaprojects over the last decade – from high-speed rail to power plants and ports – hasn't come cheap. The debt built up for BRI investments is thought to be at least $1 trillion (£752bn), and many of these projects have not met expectations, hindering the host country’s ability to pay back its debt to China.

Read on to discover 15 massive megaprojects bankrolled by China. The projects have been ordered in terms of cost based on available figures, although as you'll see, those aren't the only sums at play...

All dollar amounts in US dollars.

Megaprojects around the world bankrolled by China