China’s Belt and Road Initiative: A Global Model for an Evolving Approach to Sustainable Regional Development

Abstract

China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a cornucopia of international projects that offer mammoth opportunities for more economic cooperation and deeper regional integration primarily among emerging economies. BRI is providing new drivers of sustainable economic growth in China and of cross-border trade, along with the reimagined land and “Maritime Silk Road”. The initiative focuses on restoring global balance and on expanding universally beneficial and inclusive relationships. This article argues that the forces of globalization are so pivotal to Eurasia, where development opportunities can propel the region toward a more comprehensive socioeconomic integration, that governments in that region need to provide more support that ensures the continuing success of BRI. In essence, BRI is a critical tool for peaceful development that is resulting in massive investments in infrastructure, that is facilitating economic development, and that is promoting shared governance. This article provides theoretical perspectives on BRI as a beachhead for sustainable regional development. It also highlights BRI programs and projects that have emerged as an internal and external policy framework for an openly inclusive “win–win” cooperation model based on shared development and on communities of shared interests.

Evaluation of the Obstacles to Developing the Aynak Copper Mine in Afghanistan

“…This study assessed the degree of administrative capacity, labor investment, labor productivity, capital investment, efficiency of capital, terroristic activities, and issues of religion in relation to the developing process of the Aynak Copper Mine project in Afghanistan. In line with previous research on economic collaboration [2,[22][23][24] and Afghanistan [1, [25][26][27][28], the major finding of this current research is that the progressive process of developing the Aynak Copper Mine project is strongly associated with the factors of DAC, TAs, and RIs. One of the most significant results showed that a lack of strong administrative capacity may be an obstacle in developing the Aynak Copper Mine.…”

“…As Table 1 shown, we collected data from the six groups of stakeholders and then we placed them into five categories: None or few (0-20), not too much (21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40), neutral (41-60), partial (61-80), and very much (81-100). Among the 2563 responses related to the DAC, 62 people (2.4%) realized that the Afghan Government has no or few DACs to influence the development process of the Aynak Copper Mine, and 524 (20.4%) considered that there is not too much the DAC of the Afghan Government can do with the development of the Aynak Copper Mine.…”

Does China’s Outward Direct Investment Improve the Institutional Quality of the Belt and Road Countries?

“…In the recent past scholars have paid considerable attention to this initiative which has specifically aimed to invest in better connecting Europe, Middle East, Central Asia, South-East Asia, and China [37][38][39][40]. Along with economic integration the B&R initiative is also considered as a vehicle toward sustainable development [41][42][43]. This initiative, which is an initiative for regional cooperation is suggested to have a positive impact on the sustainable development of all the countries involved [44].…”

China’s One Belt and One Road Initiative and Outward Chinese Foreign Direct Investment in Europe

“…The BRI's influence extends from the Middle East and North Africa to Europe, and cooperation between Europe and China is getting stronger. It has been estimated that the targeted regions of China's investment are central and western Asia, Europe, and Russia [7]. Due to Europe's significance to the BRI, the success of the BRI will be determined by its countries.…”