ABSTRACT

Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013, a development strategy involving infrastructure development and investments in countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. It has rapidly turned into action, reflected in the establishment of a series of international cooperation mechanisms, landing of cooperation projects, and harvest of some early results. The influence is huge, and controversy is not unexpected. As one of the most frequently mentioned concepts in the official media, how does the “bid to enhance regional connectivity” construct a unified large market through cultural exchange and integration in practice? What is the status quo of building an innovative pattern with capital inflows, talent pool, and technology database?

Routledge Handbook of the Belt and Road is an initial review of the theory and practice of BRI, and is the first handbook of its kind. Contributors are leading subject researchers, aiming to reflect the original intentions and principles, history and current situation, basic knowledge and latest studies. A total of 117 entries related to the BRI have been included, organised into 12 clear parts covering the following key topics:
• China’s reform and opening-up and formation of the BRI
• Backstory, concept and framework
• The five roads and six economic corridors
• Foreign affairs with Chinese characteristics
• International action plans relevant and similar to the BRI
• Case studies of the BRI implementation and promotion

Routledge Handbook of the Belt and Road is an essential guide for researchers, practitioners and observers involved in the BRI construction. Global think tanks, media practitioners and universities will also find the book a useful reference.

part I|2 pages

Contribution of China’s reform and opening up to the world and formation of the Belt and Road Initiative

chapter 2|6 pages

Developing an open economy and the Belt and Road

ByZhou Fangye

chapter 3|6 pages

China’s economic restructuring and the Belt and Road

ByZhou Fangye

chapter 4|6 pages

Innovation-driven development and the Belt and Road

ByZhou Fangye

chapter 6|5 pages

Confidence of a major country and the Belt and Road

ByZhou Fangye

chapter 7|5 pages

Deficit in development and the Belt and Road

ByXu Liping

chapter 8|4 pages

Deficit in peace and the Belt and Road

ByYang Xiaoping

chapter 9|4 pages

Deficit in governance and the Belt and Road

ByWang Xiaoling

part II|2 pages

Historic inheritance

chapter 10|4 pages

Naming of the Silk Road

ByDong Xiangrong

chapter 11|6 pages

A brief history of the Silk Road

ByDong Xiangrong

chapter 12|5 pages

The Overland Silk Road

ByDong Xiangrong

chapter 13|6 pages

The Maritime Silk Road

ByDong Xiangrong

chapter 14|6 pages

Silk Road and exchanges among different countries

ByDong Xiangrong

chapter 15|6 pages

The Silk Road spirit

ByDong Xiangrong

part III|2 pages

Formation and framework of the concept

chapter 16|5 pages

Process for proposing the concept

ByWang Yuzhu

chapter 17|5 pages

Background

ByWang Yuzhu

chapter 18|7 pages

The Belt and Road Initiative framework

ByWang Yuzhu, Li Shicheng

chapter 19|5 pages

Basic contents

ByXu Juan, Wang Yuzhu

chapter 20|5 pages

Basic principles

ByWang Yuzhu, Jiang Fangfei

chapter 21|7 pages

Partners

ByXu Juan, Wang Yuzhu

chapter 22|4 pages

General ideas

ByWang Yuzhu, Jiang Fangfei

chapter 23|4 pages

Directions of cooperation

ByFu Jingyun

chapter 24|5 pages

Cooperation mechanisms

ByGe Cheng

chapter 25|6 pages

Organisational structure

ByLiu Junsheng

part IV|2 pages

The five roads

chapter 26|5 pages

The Belt and Road Initiative and the Road of Peace

ByXie Laihui

chapter 27|5 pages

The Belt and Road Initiative and the Road of Prosperity

ByXie Laihui

chapter 28|5 pages

The Belt and Road Initiative and the Road of Openness

ByXie Laihui

chapter 29|5 pages

The Belt and Road Initiative and the Road of Innovation

ByXie Laihui

part V|2 pages

Five types of connectivity

chapter 31|5 pages

Policy coordination

ByQin Sheng

chapter 32|4 pages

Connectivity of infrastructure

ByLi Tianguo

chapter 33|4 pages

Unimpeded trade

ByShen Minghui

chapter 34|4 pages

Financial integration

ByShen Minghui

chapter 35|5 pages

Understanding between people

ByQin Sheng

part VI|2 pages

The six economic corridors

chapter 36|5 pages

The China–Mongolia–Russia Economic Corridor

ByWang Jinbo

chapter 37|5 pages

The New Eurasian Continental Bridge Economic Corridor

ByWang Jinbo

chapter 38|6 pages

The China–Central Asia–West Asia Economic Corridor

ByWang Jinbo

chapter 39|5 pages

The China–Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor

ByWang Jinbo

chapter 40|5 pages

The China–Pakistan Economic Corridor

ByWang Jinbo

chapter 41|5 pages

Bcim Economic Corridor

ByWang Jinbo

part VII|2 pages

Theories and concepts of the foreign affairs with Chinese characteristics

chapter 42|5 pages

Major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics

ByZhong Feiteng

chapter 43|5 pages

New-type international relations

ByZhong Feiteng

chapter 44|5 pages

New-type major-country relations

ByZhong Feiteng

chapter 45|6 pages

The community with a shared future for mankind

ByLi Zhifei

chapter 46|5 pages

Two Centenary Goals

ByYang Danzhi

chapter 47|6 pages

Win–win cooperation

ByYang Danzhi

chapter 48|4 pages

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership

ByLiu Junsheng

chapter 50|5 pages

Amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness

ByLi Zhifei

chapter 51|5 pages

Sincerity, practical results, affinity and good faith

ByYang Danzhi

part VIII|2 pages

Core concepts

chapter 52|5 pages

Bridge development strategies

ByXu Xiujun

chapter 53|4 pages

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

ByXu Xiujun

chapter 54|6 pages

Silk Road Fund

ByXu Xiujun

chapter 55|6 pages

New Development Bank

ByXu Xiujun

chapter 56|4 pages

China–Asean Cooperation Fund

ByXu Xiujun

chapter 57|5 pages

Production capacity cooperation

ByXu Xiujun

chapter 58|4 pages

Cross-border industrial parks

ByXu Xiujun

chapter 59|4 pages

Free Trade Area in China

ByTian Feng

chapter 60|4 pages

Free trade ports

ByZhang Zhongyuan

chapter 62|5 pages

New industrial innovation cooperation

ByTian Feng

chapter 63|4 pages

Promoting the international infrastructure network

ByTian Feng

chapter 65|5 pages

Global value chain development and supply chain

ByTian Feng

chapter 66|4 pages

Promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency cooperation

ByWang Yongzhong

chapter 67|5 pages

Tackle climate change

ByTian Huifang

chapter 68|4 pages

Sustainable development

ByTian Huifang

chapter 69|4 pages

Trade and investment facilitation

ByFeng Weijiang

chapter 70|4 pages

People-to-people exchanges and cooperation

ByXiao He

chapter 71|6 pages

Exchanges and mutual learning among civilisations

ByXue Li

part IX|2 pages

Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation

chapter 72|5 pages

Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation

ByDing Gong

chapter 74|4 pages

Thematic Session on Infrastructure Connectivity

ByDing Gong

chapter 75|4 pages

Thematic Session on Trade Connectivity

ByDing Gong

chapter 76|5 pages

Thematic Session on Financial Connectivity

ByQu Caiyun

chapter 77|5 pages

Thematic Session on People-to-People Connectivity

ByQu Caiyun

chapter 78|4 pages

Thematic Session on Think-Tank Exchanges

ByQu Caiyun

part X|2 pages

International action plans relevant to the Belt and Road Initiative

chapter 81|5 pages

African Agenda 2063 with the Belt and Road Initiative

ByXiao He

chapter 84|4 pages

Asean Community Vision 2025 with the Belt and Road Initiative

ByXue Li, Liu Tianyi

chapter 90|5 pages

Eastern Partnership with the Belt and Road Initiative

ByXiao He

chapter 94|5 pages

The Paris Agreement with the Belt and Road Initiative

ByTian Huifang

part XI|2 pages

International plans similar to the Belt and Road Initiative

chapter 98|5 pages

Silk Road Tourism Programme (United Nations)

ByWei Siying

chapter 99|4 pages

New Silk Road Plan (USA)

ByWei Siying

chapter 100|5 pages

Eurasian Economic Union (Russia)

ByTian Guangqiang, Liu Wei

chapter 101|4 pages

Quality Infrastructure Partnership Plan (Japan)

ByLiu Jingye

chapter 102|5 pages

Project Mausam Plan (India)

ByWu Zhaoli

chapter 103|4 pages

Global Maritime Axis Strategy (Indonesia)

ByLiu Jingye

chapter 104|5 pages

Northern Australia Development Plan (Australia)

ByPang Jiaxin

chapter 105|5 pages

Amber Railway Freight Corridor (Poland)

ByPang Jiaxin

chapter 106|4 pages

Suez Canal Economic Corridor (Egypt)

ByTian Guangqiang

chapter 108|5 pages

Two-corridor and one-ring plan (Vietnam)

ByLiu Jingye

chapter 109|5 pages

Steppe Road Plan (Mongolia)

ByTian Guangqiang

chapter 110|5 pages

Bright Road Plan (Kazakhstan)

ByPang Jiaxin

chapter 111|5 pages

New Northward Expansion Policy (South Korea)

ByPang Jiaxin

part XII|3 pages

Case studies of BRI implementation and promotion

chapter 112|6 pages

Case studies of infrastructure connectivity building

ByZhang Zhongyuan

chapter 113|5 pages

Case studies of production capacity cooperation

ByZhang Zhongyuan

chapter 114|5 pages

Case studies of trade and investment facilitation

ByZhang Zhongyuan

chapter 115|6 pages

Case studies of financial cooperation

ByZhang Zhongyuan

chapter 116|5 pages

Case studies of people-to-people exchanges

ByZhang Zhongyuan

chapter 117|6 pages

The China International Import Expo

ByZhang Zhongyuan