Under China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China has made major infrastructure investments including ports, skyscrapers, railroads, roads, bridges, airports, dams, coal-fired power stations, and railroad tunnels throughout other countries in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. In exchange, those countries form closer economic, political, and diplomatic relationships with China, and pay debt back to China directly. An IMF bailout is a more global form of direct financial support (e.g. via monetary loans) to countries hit by crises to help implement policies that restore economic stability and growth. It also provides precautionary financing to help prevent crises.