Coupling Analysis of the Road-Network Spatiotemporal Distribution and the Economy in B&R Countries Based on GIS

Abstract

The Belt and Road (B&R) is a new strategy and measure for China to extend its opening up. To explore the influence of the spatiotemporal distribution of the national road network along the B&R on economic growth, this paper adopts the subjective and objective integrated weighting method to build a regional economic evaluation model, a transportation network evaluation model, and an economy–transportation coupling coordination degree model (E-T model). We also quantitatively analyze and evaluate the coordinated development of the economy and transportation in the countries along the B&R. Our results show that: (1) There are some differences in the comprehensive scores of economic level and transportation network in different countries, and the B&R has promoted the general economic and transportation level of various countries. (2) Approximately 84% of the countries have not reached a good coordination level, and the regional differences are significant, which indicates that the overall economic and transportation coupling coordination needs to be improved. (3) In recent years, driven by the B&R, the coupling coordination of approximately 30% of the countries has improved significantly. Therefore, the B&R not only has a positive impact on the economy and transportation of countries along the belt but also plays an important role in coordinating the economic and transportation development of countries, which is of great strategic significance.

Research on Optimization Strategies of Regional Cross-Border Transportation Networks—Implications for the Construction of Cross-Border Transport Corridors in Xinjiang

“…However, the above accessibility research methods are mostly based on the time-cost model to consider the layout of a certain urban node, and pay relatively little attention to the strength of transportation links between different nodes (especially between cross-border regions).Currently, the literature on the Belt and Road initiative has focused on transport infrastructure along the Belt and Road and few studies have focused on transport accessibility and optimal construction of transport corridors. These studies have focused on the economic spillover effect [27,28], cross-border investment (FDI) growth [29,30], and the strategic value of infrastructure construction [31,32], and the relatively economically developed city clusters along the Maritime Silk Road [33,34]. Less research has focused on the relatively backward land transport along the Silk Road Economic Belt, with particular focus on the Northwest Corridor Belt [35] and the entire Silk Road Economic Belt [36] as the starting point for discussion.…”