Designing a coordinated horizontal alliance system for China’s inland ports with China railway express platforms along the Silk Road Economic Belt

Abstract

Having recognized the difficult coordination problems among China Railway Express (CR Express) platforms, this paper attempts to establish a coordinated horizontal alliance system for inland ports with CR Express platforms in China. This study employs a hybrid method with an improved entropy-weighted TOPSIS, a matching model of logistics capability and demand, and a cross-border logistics gravity model. This paper identifies the logistics attraction among the inland ports and establishes seven alliances and a corresponding collaboration mechanism. These findings provide insightful suggestions about the coordinated development of CR Express platforms along the Silk Road Economic Belt.