About 20 per cent of projects under China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to link Asia, Europe and beyond have been “seriously affected” by the coronavirus pandemic, an official from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said.

According to a survey by the ministry, about 40pc of projects have seen little adverse impact, and another 30-40pc have been somewhat affected, said Wang Xiaolong, director-general of the ministry’s International Economic Affairs Department, at a news briefing in Beijing.

The results from the survey were better than expected and although some projects had been put on hold, China had not heard of any major projects being cancelled, Reuters quoted him as saying.