Road Initiative Research Articles

The Perception and Attitude of Government Official on the Bilateral between Lao-China Initiatives under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Case Study: Vientiane Capital

The purpose of this study was to examine the level of perception and attitude of government officials on the bilateral between Lao-China Initiative under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). There are two methods of the study: the qualitative and methodology. The sample of this study comprised of government officials from 18 ministries with a total of 273 people. From querying the questionnaire, statistics analyze the data. The descriptive statistics include frequency, percentages, standard deviations, and binomial statistics to test the independent samples t -test, the One-way ANOVA. The results of this study show about knowledge and cooperation that are generally acknowledged and with perception on the attitude of the bilateral between Lao-China Initiative under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) about economic, trade and investment, social and economic, and issues and obstacles that are generally agreed upon. In addition, different individual factors, including age, level of education, the school, the experience of working, positions, and ministries (separate areas), will have different levels of perception of on the bilateral between Lao-China Initiative under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Different, individual factors include having graduated from within the country and having the experience of working at different levels with different attitudes on the bilateral between Lao-China Initiative under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with a statistical significance of 5 percentage.

THE INTERFACE BETWEEN THE BIOCEANIC ROAD AND THE BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE (BRI) FROM A BRAZILIAN PERSPECTIVE ON CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS

The current changing in world dynamics leads to an increased complexity on countries relations. From this perspective, the article's general objective analyses the impact of Latin America and East Asia integration through the Bioceanic Corridor and the Belt and Road Initiative on illicit markets. The specific objectives focus on identifying complicating elements for regional security, stemming from the collaborative and competitive engagements of actors within illegal networks. The adopted methodology is predominantly qualitative, involving bibliographic review, document analysis and case studies based on data from academic and government documents, and reports from international organizations. The addressed topics include drug and weapons trafficking, infrastructure initiatives, regional and global interconnection, and their relations to the criminal phenomena in South America. From the results obtained, the article emphasizes the anticipatory dimension, providing preventive recommendations in international collaboration, standardization of informational capabilities through common data models in road logistics hubs, and the application of security protocols in maritime hubs, with emphasis on the ARESP methodology (Risk Analysis with Emphasis on Port Security), contributing to regional integration on global security, and proposing practical and collaborative measures to anticipate and mitigate potential challenges arising from the interconnection of illicit networks on a global scale.

Examining the Philippines’ infrastructure and connectivity cooperation with China and the European Union

Like many other countries in the Global South, the Philippines is in dire need of foreign investments and loans to develop its infrastructure. Former President Rodrigo Duterte (2016–2022) sought close cooperation with China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to complement his ambitious Build! Build! Build! program. His successor Ferdinand Marcos Jr. continued many BRI projects, but canceled others, due to lack of funding from China and increased tensions in the South China Sea. Moreover, he deepened cooperation with the European Union (EU) in security and infrastructure, thereby benefiting from the EU’s Global Gateway Initiative (GGI). The findings of this study, which is theoretically located at the intersection of foreign, economic, and domestic politics, build strongly on a representative survey conducted in the Philippines in 2022. One of the major findings is the occurrence of perceptions of the Philippine citizens and elites of China and the EU that are strongly in line with each other. Another finding is the extent of the Filipinos’ ability to differentiate between “good”, “bad”, and “beautiful” effects of BRI projects despite their negative attitude towards China. Conversely, even though the EU is seen in a very positive light, the study concludes that the GGI can only then become an additional infrastructure offer, if the GGI projects bring tangible benefits to the Filipinos. Both the BRI and the GGI illustrate that offering infrastructure collaboration is strongly based on geopolitical and geo-economic reasoning, but that the recipient can utilize this fact to further its economic interests.

Sino-Africa Relations Post-Covid-19: Issues for Consideration

Sino-Africa relations have been periodised into three phases. The first phase (1950s–1970s) includes the establishment of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1949 and the decolonisation of African states. The second phase (1971–1990s) includes the drift of Sino-Soviet relations, the admission of China into the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), as well as the end of the Cold War. The third phase (2000s–2020) covers the inclusion of China into the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 2001, as well as the establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2010. This article considers the fourth phase of Sino-Africa relations, argued to have begun in 2020 post-Covid-19, taking place at a time of de-globalisation, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the US-China trade war. We assert that the latter changing global dynamics must be considered in making sense of Sino-Africa relations today. The article argues that despite such a changing global political order, there have been continuities and changes in China’s relations with the African continent. This is evident in the tightening of its relations with Africa, irrespective of ongoing dynamics in global affairs. Despite concerns about the USA’s reprioritisation of Africa, the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), vaccine diplomacy, and China and African States’ “neutrality” stance on various ongoing conflicts, it is safe to say that Sino-Africa relations will triumph even in this new phase.

Trade-offs and synergies pattern evolution of ecosystem structure-resilience-activity-services (SRAS) in the Belt and Road Initiative region

This study develops an analytical framework comprising “ecosystem pattern – trade-off and synergy process – multidimensional response mechanism – future risk management” to investigate the evolution of trade-off and synergy patterns of SRAS performance and its sustainability among BRI nations and 80 representative cities. The synergistic levels of SRAS in BRI countries declined, but will increase in the future, the increased trend of BRI cities will transfer to decline in the future. The interaction of multi-dimensional human urban activities could achieve a stronger impact on SRAS performance synergies of BRI countries and cities, and the PD-LU and PD-ED were the dominant interaction influence chains, respectively. This study was the first one to holistically reveal the evolution of trade-off and synergy patterns of SRAS performances, at both nation and city levels, in the BRI region. It also contributes new perspectives from the BRI region to the sustainable urban planning, terrestrial ecosystems conservation, and urban ecological governance programs.

A Risk Management Strategy under Transfer Pricing for Multi-National Supply Chain along the Belt and Road Initiative

The “Belt and Road Initiative” (BRI) drives international trade more and more frequently, making exchange rates and taxes unavoidable issues for multi-national companies. Thus, exchange risk uncertainty and tax saving planning should be considered in the operational decisions of a multi-national supply chain. This paper constructs a Stackelberg game model with four composite modes to explore the risk-taking and hedging strategy of retailers with reference-dependent psychology. The results show that: (1) exchange rate risk is transmitted through all subjects under the cost-plus transfer pricing strategy, while it is transmitted only between headquarters and retailers under the resale-price transfer pricing strategy. (2) No matter which subject bears the exchange rate risk, the motivation is stronger under the resale-price transfer pricing strategy. (3) The effect of futures hedging exchange rate risk is influenced by retailer reference-dependent psychology. When the reference dependence coefficient is low, and the risk of positive exchange rate fluctuations is too high, the retailer chooses to hedge its exchange rate risk. At this time, the transfer pricing strategy should shift to cost-plus, and the exchange rate fluctuation range that each entity can afford is larger than before hedging.

A study on the spatial correlation network structure and its influencing factors of coupling coordination between FDI flow network and carbon transfer network in the belt and road initiative countries

Clarifying the spatial correlation characteristics and influencing factors of coupling coordination between Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flow networks and carbon transfer networks in countries along the Belt and Road Initiative is of utmost importance for the formulation of regional carbon governance strategies and the establishment of a high-quality Green Silk Road. This study used a comprehensive approach combining social network analysis and coupling coordination model to measure the coupling coordination degree of FDI flow networks and carbon transfer networks of 67 Belt and Road countries from 2010 to 2016. In addition, a modified gravity model is used to characterize the spatial correlation network structure of coupling coordination between the two networks, and the QAP regression analysis method is applied to investigate the factors influencing the spatial association network. The results are as follows: 1) The spatial correlation network of coupling coordination between the two networks has good accessibility and relatively high overall network stability. 2) Countries such as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates occupy central positions in the network, while Bahrain and Jordan are positioned on the periphery of the network. 3) The spatial correlation network can be divided into three sectors: net outflow, net inflow, and bidirectional overflow sectors. 4) Spatial adjacency, bilateral investment treaties, economic development, and institutional quality have significant positive effects on the spatial association network, while the industrial structure and the level of infrastructure development have a significant negative impact. This study proposes an indicator system for the coupling coordination between FDI flow networks and carbon transfer networks. The aim is to investigate the coupling coordination relationship between FDI flow networks and carbon emission transfer networks in countries along the Belt and Road Initiative, providing important guidance for the formulation of regional cooperative carbon emission reduction strategies in other regions.

CEO political connections and OFDI of Chinese firms under the Belt and Road Initiative

Since the Chinese government proposed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013, Chinese firms have been actively investing in countries participating in BRI. What kinds of firms are willing to respond to this geopolitical policy? According to resource dependence theory and resource-based view, this study examines the impact of CEO political connections on outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) in the context of BRI and its boundary conditions. The results show that CEO political connections can promote firm OFDI under BRI. However, a good institutional environment in the home region and host country weakens the positive impact of CEO political connections. Furthermore, central state ownership has a substitute role for CEO political connections.

The Belt and Road Initiative, outward foreign direct investment and total factor productivity—Evidence from China

The Belt and Road Initiative, outward foreign direct investment and total factor productivity—Evidence from China

Strategic and Economics Interest of China in Balochistan: The Role of Natural Resources and Geopolitical Implication of Gwadar Port in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)

Strategic and Economics Interest of China in Balochistan: The Role of Natural Resources and Geopolitical Implication of Gwadar Port in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)

Global supply chain flow planning for Chinese manufacturing under the BRI: An SFG-DRO method

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has fostered the free flow of commodities and optimal distribution of resources for the global manufacturing supply chain (GMSC), meanwhile confronted with risks and uncertainties. This paper proposes the SFG-DRO method, which can well solve the flow distribution problem of GMSC under the BRI with uncertainties. The proposed method combines trend prediction from the stochastic frontier gravity (SFG) model with 1-Wasserstein fuzzy set-based distributionally robust optimization (DRO). Additionally, this paper integrates the principles of the column and constraint generation (C&CG) algorithm with the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm to handle the above two-stage nonlinear problems efficiently. The results show that the SFG-DRO distribution method significantly reduces transportation costs by 25% and enhances security. By examining flow distribution across three key BRI channels, this paper identifies underexploited markets along the southward channel and substantial market potential with security risks along the northeast sea-land channel, proposing relevant improvement suggestions.

A governance perspective on China’s belt and road initiative: a case study of the Sino-Thai railway project

ABSTRACT This study examines a project in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) from a governance perspective, according to which the BRI is constructed through negotiations involving a diverse range of actors. The analysis focuses on the relationships among actors with different interests and resources, and traces how these shaped the design of the project. This approach differs from broader geostrategic discourses of the BRI. While the geostrategic perspectives have enriched our understanding of China’s policies, the governance perspective offers a valuable bridging theory to inform analyses of how BRI projects are designed and implemented on the ground. The analysis was carried out using extensive documents from the Thai government, and interviews were conducted to enhance and refine the analysis. The Sino-Thai railway project highlights how the actors involved in bureaucratic processes and the network relations among them at domestic and bilateral levels have significant impacts on project design.

China’s Security Presence and BRI in African Countries

China’s security presence has been growing steadily in proportion to the progress of the Belt and Road Initiative, reflected in a larger military footprint in Africa in the form of logistical and resupply bases. The BRI/military nexus has allowed Beijing to play a larger role in African affairs more recently, raising alarms in the United States and the European Union. Despite growing speculation and skepticism in some quarters, African societies still welcome Beijing’s increasing investment and deeper involvement in regional security matters. After Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea is the most likely nation to host the next Chinese military base. But at the same time, the West’s scrutiny of Beijing’s rising profile and deeper security involvement in Africa will also grow as China continues to chip away at the West’s influence on the continent. A steadier security footing for China would change great power dynamics in the region even as competition between Beijing on the one hand and Washington and Brussels on the other will still be limited to the economic and financial domains.

Exploring the Distribution of Tourism Resources in Kyrgyzstan under the Background of the Belt and Road Initiative and Swot Analysis

Exploring the Distribution of Tourism Resources in Kyrgyzstan under the Background of the Belt and Road Initiative and Swot Analysis

The Kashmir Conflict and Sino-Indian Rivalry: Geopolitics of the Belt and Road Initiative

The Kashmir Conflict and Sino-Indian Rivalry: Geopolitics of the Belt and Road Initiative

Credit rating agencies’ views on China’s Belt and Road Initiative

ABSTRACT How do credit rating agencies (CRAs) view China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)? Our analysis of 132 countries in 2000–17 demonstrates that Chinese foreign investment adversely affects sovereign ratings of recipient countries when these countries participate officially in the BRI but is otherwise insignificant. These results indicate that rather than being a generic China bias, the BRI bias is a geopolitical bias, based on CRA’s expectation that BRI recipients become more dependent economically and politically on China. The main implication of our findings in financial terms is that CRAs limit the supply of international capital to BRI recipients. In broader terms of international political economy, this indicates a feedback loop whereby BRI funding repels Western funding and increases dependence on more BRI financing. Put differently, CRAs exacerbate the structural shift in the world political economy toward a decoupling between the US and Chinese financial spheres of influence.

Digitalization and Cyber Security Policies in Uzbekıstan's Institutions and Sectors in One Belt One Road Project

The diffusion of information and communication technologies (ICT) into a rapidly growing area of global trade has contributed significantly to the gains made by companies and governments. Increasing consumption at the international level and the desire for faster and more reliable delivery of goods have led to the emergence of new sectors. In this context, states, other government agencies, and the private sector have sought to enhance their bilateral relations and investments and establish strategic partnerships to develop new fast, and reliable trade networks. While actions and activities in cyberspace and digital spaces have provided significant convenience and opportunities, they have also led to significant security concerns. The purpose of this study is to examine and evaluate the contribution of the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative to the digitalization of Uzbekistan and the policies pursued by Uzbekistan in this regard, and to investigate the effects of public and private sector institutional cooperation in the One Belt, One Road project. The content analysis method was applied, one of the qualitative research methods. The study was also strengthened with the SWOT analysis method. By comparing relevant documents and sources on the subject, the aim of the study was concluded. The studies carried out to increase Uzbekistan's cyber capacity, the importance of maintaining strong cyber security policies through technology transfer, the challenges and legal regulations, institutional and sectoral cooperation, and their effects are the problem statements within the outline of the purpose of the study.

Shari’ah-compliant Financing Mechanisms for Belt and Road Initiative: Mitigating Debt Trap Risks

Shari’ah-compliant Financing Mechanisms for Belt and Road Initiative: Mitigating Debt Trap Risks

A time-space network-based model for transportation service optimization of China Railway Express

This paper describes the development and optimization plans for the China Railway Express (CR Express). As a new type of international land transport organization, CR Express has emerged with the continuous expansion of China toward European investment and trade, and in particular, has expanded with the continuous progress of the One Belt and One Road (OBOR) initiative. In addition to improving the service quality of CR Express, the operating costs must be reduced for developing “smart railways” that serve “smart cities”. We propose a dual-objective-based function mathematical optimization model; the satisfaction of the cargo owner is considered, and the timeliness, transportation capacity, and goods category constraints of CR Express transportation are designed. Moreover, we present the normalized equivalent method of the two-objective function of the model. Finally, a case study is conducted against the background of certain trains in the western corridor of CR Express to validate the effectiveness of the model and research methods proposed in this study.

Business environment and quality of economic development–Evidence from countries along the Belt and Road

This study examines the impact of the business environment on economic development quality in 66 Belt and Road Initiative countries from 2015 to 2020. It finds that the business environment significantly boosts economic development quality, with the total labor force serving as a mediating variable. Further analysis shows that the impact is more pronounced in countries with higher economic development levels, providing insights and a framework for countries aiming to enhance their economic development quality.