The OP covered it in general, but here are more specifics. Basically the PRC infrastructure projects are aimed at developing and creating self-sufficient economies that, once fully realized, will show neocolonialist dependencies the path to liberation from European and American imperialism.
The PRC’s loans are extremely fair, very low to zero interest, and are often forgiven in the case a debtor cannot pay. The Belt and Road initiative is, dollar by dollar, brick by brick, peacefully dismantling centuries of economic Western imperialism and creating a world in which less developed nations are not reliant on the benevolence of their imperial masters to sustain and care for their people
A good section from one of the reddit comments linked: