The Bangladesh–China–India–Myanmar Economic Corridor

Abstract

The Bangladesh–China–India–Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor starts north from Yunnan, China (Kunming) through Myanmar, India and Bangladesh, to the Indian Ocean. The corridor connects the three regions of East Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia, and links up the Pacific and Indian oceans, possessing unique regional advantages and geographical advantages. Among the countries along the corridor, Myanmar has a unique position advantage, located at the junction of the three geopolitical plates of South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia. India is the largest economy in South Asia and China’s largest trade partner in this region. Bangladesh is well located at the intersection of the three major economies of China, India, and the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN). Because Bangladesh, China, India, and Myanmar are all developing countries, and Myanmar and Bangladesh belong to the least developed countries, it is necessary for the four countries, especially China and India, to take the opportunity of joint construction of the BCIM Economic Corridor to put comparative advantages, location advantages, energy resources, and the demographic dividend into development advantages.