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The Belt and Road: Understanding the China-Africa Proposed Co-construction of the Belt and Road Initiative

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Abstract

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is highly development-oriented and appeals to developing countries whose wish is to catch up with developed economies. China has called for co-construction of the BRI with all and sundry, particularly with African countries, which it has considered important and strategic in actualizing the BRI project. The call for co-construction echoes well with the African partners, who are keen on leveraging the BRI for their own development. Tied to China’s status as a rising economic power, both partners have agreed to align the BRI with the African Union’s development agenda for complementary and beneficial development. Our paper revealed that although the call for co-construction of the BRI is a welcomed initiative, there are potential setbacks that abound, and therefore offered strategies for responding to China’s call for co-construction of the BRI.

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Notes

  1. The Ethiopian-Djibouti railway that connects Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, to the Port of Doraleh in Djibout, which was completed in 2017, has improved commercial activities and impacted positively on the Ethiopian economy. The project, which was partially built and funded by Chinese companies with the assistance of the Chinese government, covers 752 km and cuts the travel time between Addis and the Port of Doraleh from 3 days to just 12 h, a two-thirds reduction of the travel time (see Ehizuelen and Abdi 2017, p.4–5).

  2. “the relationship between China and Africa is largely symmetrical as Beijing has relied on and will continue to need political support from African countries in the global arena.” (see Liang 2012, p.672).

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  1. School of Cultural Heritage, The Middle East Research Institute, Northwest University, Xi’an, China

    Emmanuel Chidiebere Edeh

  2. The Middle East Research Institute, Northwestern University, Xi’an, China

    Zhi Bin Han

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Edeh, E.C., Han, Z.B. The Belt and Road: Understanding the China-Africa Proposed Co-construction of the Belt and Road Initiative. East Asia 40, 411–430 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12140-023-09412-w

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