POVERTY is still a major issue plaguing the modern world. In the 65 countries including China along the Belt and Road route, only 18 are high-income countries, with the per capita GDP reaching US $27,000. There are 22 countries in the upper-middle-income bracket as the average per capita GDP in these countries stands at US $7,000. The number of lower-middle-income nations is 23, having an average per capita GDP less than US $2,500. The remaining two, Afghanistan and Nepal, have their GDP per capita share of US $1,000.