Risk assessment of oil and gas investment environment in countries along the Belt and Road Initiative

With the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, China is deepening its cooperation in oil and gas resources with countries along the Initiative. In order to better mitigate risks and enhance the safety of investments, it is of significant importance to research the oil and gas investment environment in these countries for China's overseas investment macro-layout. This paper proposes an indicator system including 27 indicators from 6 dimensions. On this basis, game theory models combined with global entropy method and analytic hierarchy process are applied to determine the combined weights, and the TOPSIS-GRA model is utilized to assess the risks of oil and gas investment in 76 countries along the Initiative from 2014 to 2021. Finally, the GM(1,1) model is employed to predict risk values for 2022-2025. In conclusion, oil and gas resources and political factors have the greatest impact on investment environment risk, and 12 countries with greater investment potential are selected through cluster analysis in conjunction with the predicted results. The research findings may provide scientific decisionmaking recommendations for the Chinese government and oil enterprises to strengthen oil and gas investment cooperation with countries along the Belt and Road Initiative.

Innovation Analysis of Rural Agricultural Economic Management Model in the Context of the Belt and Road Initiative

[Objectives]To explore innovative strategies for rural agricultural economic development in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative.[Methods]This research adopts the method of literature review and field research,systematically combs the research results related to the Belt and Road Initiative and rural agricultural economic management,and deeply understands the actual situation of rural agricultural economic management.[Results]The research shows that in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative,the rural agricultural economy is facing new development opportunities and challenges,but there are also some problems.In the new period,we should accelerate the innovative development of rural agricultural economy by promoting market-oriented reform,strengthening scientific and technological innovation,optimizing the industrial structure,deepening international cooperation and other measures.The Belt and Road Initiative provides an important opportunity for the innovation of rural agricultural economic management.Rural agricultural economic management should be actively integrated into the Belt and Road construction to improve the level of rural agricultural economic management.[Conclusions]This study provides useful exploration and reference for the innovation of rural agricultural economic management models,which helps to promote the healthy development of rural agricultural economy and achieve the goal of rural revitalization.

Colorectal cancer’s burden attributable to a diet high in processed meat in the Belt and Road Initiative countries

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer(CRC)plays a significant role in morbidity,mortality,and economic cost in the Belt and Road Initiative(“B and R”)countries.In addition,these countries have a substantial consumption of processed meat.However,the burden and trend of CRC in relation to the consumption of a diet high in processed meat(DHPM-CRC)in these“B and R”countries remain unknown.AIM To analyze the burden and trend of DHPM-CRC in the“B and R”countries from 1990 to 2019.METHODS We used the 2019 Global Burden of Disease Study to collate information regarding the burden of DHPM-CRC.Numbers and age-standardized rates(ASRs)of deaths along with the disability-adjusted life years(DALYs)were determined among the“B and R”countries in 1990 and 2019.Using joinpoint regression analysis,the average annual percent change(AAPC)was used to analyze the temporal trends of age-standardized DALYs rate(ASDALR)from 1990 to 2019 and in the final decade(2010–2019).RESULTS We found geographical differences in the burden of DHPM-CRC among“B and R”countries,with the three highest-ranking countries being the Russian Federation,China,and Ukraine in 1990,and China,the Russian Federation,and Poland in 2019.The burden of DHPM-CRC generally increased in most member countries from 1990 to 2019(all P<0.05).The absolute number of deaths and DALYs in DHPM-CRC were 3151.15[95%uncertainty interval(UI)665.74-5696.64]and 83249.31(95%UI 15628.64-151956.31)in China in 2019.However,the number of deaths(2627.57-2528.51)and DALYs(65867.39-55378.65)for DHPM-CRC in the Russian Federation has declined.The fastest increase in ASDALR for DHPM-CRC was observed in Vietnam,Southeast Asia,with an AAPC value of 3.90%[95%confidence interval(CI):3.63%-4.16%],whereas the fastest decline was observed in Kyrgyzstan,Central Asia,with an AAPC value of-2.05%(95%CI:-2.37%to-1.73%).A substantial upward trend in ASR of mortality,years lived with disability,years of life lost,and DALYs from DHPM-CRC changes in 1990-2019 and the final decade(2010-2019)for most Maritime Silk Route members in East Asia,South Asia,Southeast Asia,North Africa,and the Middle East,as well as Central Europe,while those of the most Land Silk Route members in Central Asia and Eastern Europe have decreased markedly(all P<0.05).The ASDALR for DHPM-CRC increased more in males than in females(all P<0.05).For those aged 50-74 years,the ASDALR for DHPM-CRC in 40 members exhibited an increasing trend,except for 20 members,including 7 members in Central Asia,Maldives,and 12 high or high-middle social development index(SDI)members in other regions(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION The burden of DHPM-CRC varies substantially across“B and R”countries and threatens public health.Relevant evidence-based policies and interventions tailored to the different trends of countries in SDIs or Silk Routes should be adopted to reduce the future burden of CRC in“B and R”countries via extensive collaboration.

Preliminary Study on Overseas Applicability of Chinese Architectural Design Standards:Taking China-Aided Construction Projects in Asia Since the Belt and Road Initiative as Examples

This research takes China-aided construction projects in Asia since the Belt and Road Initiative as examples to explore the applicability of Chinese architectural design standards in other Asian countries.So far,the standards demonstrated the highest applicability in South Asia is the best followed by Southeast Asia.Chinese architectural design standards for educational buildings showed the highest applicability,followed by office,medical,and sports buildings.This study puts forward some strategies to improve the applicability of Chinese architectural design standards.These strategies include integrating regionalism and local cultural traditions,optimizing energy efficiency,and aligning designs with local usage habits.This study serves as a reference for similar projects in the future.

Discourse Analysis of the Belt and Road Initiative From the Perspective of Central Asian Countries: A Case Study of the Republic of Kazakhstan

This study employs Norman Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis(CDA)three-dimensional model,using the Republic of Kazakhstan as a case study,to delve into the discourse construction of China’s Belt and Road Initiative(BRI)in Central Asian countries.Through detailed analysis of policy documents,media reports,and public discussions in Central Asian countries,this paper reveals how the BRI constructs specific social practices,discourse events,and textual meanings within these nations.The findings indicate that through this global development strategy,China has not only strengthened its economic ties with Central Asian countries but has also exerted profound influences on political,cultural,and social levels.

Current Situation and Discussion of “Going Abroad” in Higher Vocational Colleges Under the Background of the Belt and Road Initiative

The Belt and Road Initiative has brought unprecedented development opportunities for domestic higher vocational colleges to“go abroad,”but it has also brought severe challenges.Driven by the Belt and Road Initiative,the development of higher vocational colleges“going abroad”has been confronted with a series of challenges,including the imperfect connection of policies,the lack of internal funds,as well as international standards,which are important factors affecting their development.Therefore,it is necessary to start from three aspects,which are policy guarantee,financing,and docking international standards.Through in-depth study of“going abroad”with tthe Belt and Road Initiative,we can effectively reduce the adverse impact of“going abroad”and provide a better and more innovative development environment for higher vocational colleges.

The Reciprocal and Symbiotic Effects of Industrial Relocation between China and BRI Countries

Reciprocity and symbiosis are essential to the creation of“a community with a shared future for mankind”,and industrial relocation is a key strategy for implementing the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI).This paper investigates the reciprocal and symbiotic effects of industrial relocation between China and BRI countries,and performs an empirical test using the Eora global supply chain database of 2002-2020.Our findings suggest that there has been an increasing level of industrial reciprocity and symbiosis between China and BRI countries,but great differences exist across sectors and regions;industrial relocation between China and BRI countries is conducive to two-way industrial reciprocity and symbiosis primarily through regional value chain cooperation and an increasing level of industrial agglomeration.The most substantial effects have been observed in industrial relocation involving developed BRI countries,in medium-and high-tech sectors,and following the announcement of the BRI.

International Dissemination of TCM Culture under the "Belt and Road" Initiative: Opportunities and Challenges

The international dissemination of TCM culture, as a carrier of the implementation of the"Belt and Road"Initiative, is being endowed with greater importance. However, the spread of TCM culture into the world faces opportunities as well as challenges. To better serve the"Belt and Road"Initiative, measures should be taken to strengthen TCM communication and cooperation in different aspects and build a sound intellectual property protection system.

The Belt and Road Initiative and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development:seeking linkages for global environmental governance

Global environmental cooperation serves as an important part in the Chinese ideal of building a Community with a Shared Future for all Human Beings. The report of 19 th CPC National Congress indicates that China is committed to proactive mitigation under the Paris Agreement and further participating in global environmental governance under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and both of which are largely integrated to the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI). BRI are also closely linked with South-South environmental and climate cooperation proposed by China from previous UN summits. Based on shared ideas, intersected agendas, and compatible governance approaches, BRI and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development grow increasingly relevant and they might form synergies based on increasingly interactive relations. In sum,seeking and intensifying the linkages between BRI and 2030 sustainable development goals(SDGs) could address global environmental governance deficits and enhance cooperation among nations.

Spatial-temporal Evolution and Determinants of the Belt and Road Initiative: A Maximum Entropy Gravity Model Approach

The spatial interaction model is an effective way to explore the geographical disparities inherent in the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI) by simulating spatial flows. The traditional gravity model implies the hypothesis of equilibrium points without any reference to when or how to achieve it. In this paper, a dynamic gravity model was established based on the Maximum Entropy(MaxEnt) theory to estimate and monitor the interconnection intensity and dynamic characters of bilateral relations. In order to detect the determinants of interconnection intensity, a Geodetector method was applied to identify and evaluate the determinants of spatial networks in five dimensions. The empirical study clearly demonstrates a heterogeneous and non-circular spatial structure. The main driving forces of spatial-temporal evolution are foreign direct investment, tourism and railway infrastructure construction, while determinants in different sub-regions show obvious spatial differentiation. Southeast Asian countries are typically multi-island area where aviation infrastructure plays a more important role. North and Central Asian countries regard oil as a pillar industry where power and port facilities have a greater impact on the interconnection. While Western Asian countries are mostly influenced by the railway infrastructure, Eastern European countries already have relatively robust infrastructure where tariff policies provide a greater impetus.

Strategies for Promoting Cross-Cultural Communication under the“Belt and Road”Initiative

The“Belt and Road”initiative is of great importance to the development of China and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.Improving the cultural exchange between countries along the“Belt and Road”is vital to its success.It can be achieved by facilitating public diplomacy,spreading of the Silk Road spirit and promoting contacts among the peoples.

A Corpus-based Investigation on News Attitudes towards the Belt and Road Initiative

Newspaper reports contain some attitudes in seemingly objective words. This corpus-based discourse analytical study,by comparing the use of semantic prosodies in the reports from China Daily and the Washington Post relating the Belt and Road Initiative, interprets the news attitudes presented by the two media toward it. The analysis of the news discourse will be carried out firstly with Antconc, a corpus analysis software which enables us to observe the most frequent co-occurrences of the phrases the Belt and Road, One Belt and One Road, New Silk Road and the initiative; and then COCA(Corpus of Contemporary American English) is involved to analyze the semantic prosodies of these co-occurrences, on this basis the semantic prosodies of the above phrases are revealed. The analysis of the semantic prosodies of the above four phrases in the two corpora shows that China Daily hold a supportive attitude toward the Initiative, while the Washington Post hold a complex one.

Does the Belt and Road Initiative Promote Value Chain Connection Between China and the Silk Road Countries?

The global value chains have become the core skeleton of the global economy.As a large-scale international cooperation initiative,the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI hereafter)may have a significant impact on the global economic landscape.In this context,the spatiotemporal pattern and evolution of the value chain connection of the Silk Road countries and whether the BRI will promote the value chain connections between China and these countries are important research questions for understanding the changing global economic landscape.This paper employs input-output analysis,network analysis and difference-in-differences based on Propensity Score Matching(PSM-DID)to conduct an in-depth quantitative study of these questions.The results show that,first,the overall value chain connection between China and the Silk Road countries has been rising since 2001.From the perspective of geographical distribution,Southeast Asia is the highest value chain connection region with China,and the growth in the central and eastern Europe is the most significant,whereas the central Asia is the lowest value connection region.From the perspective of complex network analysis,China’s position in the network of value flow among the Silk Road countries has been increasing continuously,and it has been in the lead position since 2008.Besides,the implementation of the BRI has had a significant positive influence on the overall value chain connection between China and the Silk Road countries,but this positive influence is limited to the central and eastern Europe region,whereas it is not significant in other regions.Finally,this paper suggests that to promote the development of value chain connection,the Silk Road countries need to develop more specific policies related to value chains.Policymakers need to be able to correctly identify the comparative advantages of the region and the types of value chains that are compatible with them and then find suitable partners and formulate targeted promotion policies.

The Belt and Road Initiative from Three Theoretical Perspectives

Efforts have generally been made from policy considerations to interpret reasons for the proposition of the Belt and Road Initiative and its global layout.Though they are of some significance,such a grand initiative certainly has its own internal theoretical basis.This paper is in the opinion that the spillover effect of oversized economy,the extension of the value chain and its climbing effect,as well as channel suitability and location orientation constitute the endogenous driving forces of the Belt and Road Initiative.Each of the three theoretical perspectives has its own internal realistic basis,all of which may offer some reference that is conducive to understanding the practice and future development of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Research on the Cultivation of International and Innovative Talents in Colleges and Universities under the context of Belt and Road Initiative

The Belt and Road Initiative is a strategic initiative that aims to expand the opening up in China in recent years.The implementation and practice of the Belt and Road Initiative has proved that this strategy has played a significant role in opening up a new,comprehensive pattern.The report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China pointed out that it is necessary to train a group of high-tech leading talents,international-level strategic scientific and technological talents,young scientific and technological talents,and high-level innovation teams for the development of the country.In the context of Belt and Road Initiative,colleges and universities have more arduous missions and responsibilities.Only by constantly innovating the talent training model can we improve our competitiveness in the international market.

Evaluation of the sustainable development level of countries along the Belt and Road and its impact factors:Empirical analysis based on the Super-efficiency slacks-based measure and Tobit measure models

Sustainable development is an important component of the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI)and is of great significance for evaluating the levels of sustainable development of countries along this route(henceforth,BRI countries).Therefore,this study aims to identify the factors that influence the levels of sustainable development of BRI countries in a reasonable and objective manner.Eventually,this study employs the super efficiency slacks-based measure(Super-SBM)model,which considers unexpected outputs to measure the level of sustainable development of BRI countries.The dynamic change and composition of the sustainable development level of these countries are calculated using the global Malmquist-Luenberger index.Furthermore,the Tobit model is used to identify the factors influencing the level of sustainable development of BRI countries in general and in various categories.The empirical results suggest the following points.(a)The overall level of sustainable development of BRI countries is low,whereas those of high-income and middle-and high-income countries are relatively high.(b)The overall sustainable development levels of BRI countries declined to a certain extent in 2008 owing to the effect of the financial crisis,.However,the sustainable development level of other countries,barring low-income countries,has gradually increased since 2011.(c)Since 2008,technological progress has replaced technical efficiency as the main driving force behind the improvement of the sustainable development level of BRI countries.(d)A U-shaped relationship is observed between the economic and sustainable development levels of these countries.(e)The level of science and technology and the proportion of renewable energy consumption can promote the sustainable development of these countries.Moreover,a negative correlation exists between the level of opening to the outside world and that of sustainable development of countries that mainly export resource-based products and are dominated by labor-intensive export industries.Barring low-income countries,the energy structure plays an effective role in improving the level of sustainable development.Finally,the study presents suggestions for China in the process of coping with the sustainable development of relevant countries during its promotion of the BRI.

Economic Globalization 3.0 and the Concept of Interconnection under the Belt and Road Initiative

At present,the third wave of economic globalization is emerging.After the setbacks in Economic Globalization 1.0 and rejuvenation in Economic Globalization 2.0,China's economy is bound to occupy an important international position in the new chapter of Economic Globalization 3.0 and exert profound influence globally.The benefits of globalization cannot be realized without a number of realistic conditions,including the level of technology and infrastructure,geopolitical pattern and market power structure,international institutional arrangements(global governance structure),among others.Under Economic Globalization 3.0,the nature of international competition is good governance,rather than brutal force and hegemony.What matters for China is for it to become an innovative and vibrant country and demonstrate its economic vitality,competitiveness and creativity.Therefore,China's position under Economic Globalization 3.0 depends on its transition from a "world leader of high growth " into a future "world leader of good governance and vibrancy." In the new chapter of Economic Globalization 3.0,the interests of world economies become interwoven and interdependent.Despite unavoidable frictions and disputes,more inclusive and balanced development serves the interests of most countries in the world.For major countries with global interests,maintaining the new balance of power for economic globalization is consistent with their respective national interests.The shared interests of countries promise a more peaceful and interconnected world than ever before.

Spatial Interaction Network Analysis of Crude Oil Trade Relations between Countries along the Belt and Road

Based on the theories and methods of complex network,crude oil trade flows between countries along the Belt and Road(B&R,hereafter)are inserted into the Geo-space of B&R and form a spatial interaction network which takes the countries as nodes and takes the trade relations as edges.The networked mining and evolution analysis can provide important references for the research on trade relations among the B&R countries and the formulation of trade policy.This paper researches and discusses the construction,statistical analysis,top networks and stability of the crude oil trade network between the B&R countries from 2001 to 2020 from the perspectives of Geo-Computation for Social Sciences(GCSS)and spatial interaction.Firstly,evolutions of out-degree,in-degree,out-strength and in-strength of the top 10 countries in the crude oil trade network are computed and analyzed.Secondly,the top network method is used to explore the evolution characteristics of hierarchical structures.And finally,the sequential evolution characteristics of the crude oil trade network stability are analyzed utilizing the network stability measure method based on the trade relationship autocorrelation function.The analysis results show that Russia has the largest out-degree and out-strength,and China has the largest in-degree and in-strength.The crude oil trade volume of the top 10 import and export networks between 2001—2020 accounts for over 90%of the total trade volume of the crude oil trade network,and the proportion remains relatively stable.However,the stability of the network showed strong fluctuations in 2009,2012 and 2014,which may be closely related to major international events in these years,which could furtherly be used to build a correlation model between network volatility and major events.This paper explores how to construct and analyze the spatial interaction network of crude oil trade and can provide references for trade relations research and trade policy formulation of B&R countries.

International collaboration to promote global health:The 2017 Belt and Road Initiative Global Health International Congress&2017 Chinese Preventive Medicine Association--Chinese Society on Global Health Annual Meeting

With the rapid development of new technologies and global trade and increasing collaboration am ong countries worldwide,public health has become a global issue.Global health,as a new discipline,has been drawing more attention from both academ ia and governments.The Belt and Road Initiative(BRI),proposed by China in 2013,aimed to prom ote trade and resource exchange,including education,research,and health issues,with over 60 countries in Asia,Africa,and Europe.The BRI provides good opportunities for involved countries to address health problems jointly as well.In response to the BRI and to promote international collaboration on global health issues,"The 2017 Belt and Road Initiative Global Health International Congress&2017 Chinese Preventive M edicine Association-Chinese Society on Global Health Annual Meeting"was held on Septem ber 24-27,2017 in Xi’an,China.Thus far,this is the largest high-quality international conference held in China that focused on the BRI global health issues.This article summarized the background,key sessions and topics covered during the congress,and important events,and highlights different perspectives of the BRI and global health by invited experts from China and abroad.The conference included 14 sessions(three keynote speech forums and ten scientific sessions and a research poster session)and about 100 speakers,around 40 of which were leading experts outside of China.All the major sessions were held in English.More than 40 leaders and experts of health sectors from 13 countries presented their work in the congress.Approximately 400 delegates from 29 countries attended the congress.Delegates had extensive discussions about global health related issues,future cooperation and development in global health.The congress fostered international exchange and collaboration.

Strategy of Oil and Gas Cooperation in the Belt and Road Initiative

This paper analyzes the basis for oil and gas cooperation in the Belt and Road Initiative(hereinafter referred to "the cooperation") and future cooperation needs, puts forward the basic idea and concept of the cooperation, establishes the full industry chain coordination win-win strategic system of the cooperation, demonstrates four aspects of capacities needing to be constructed or improved for the strategy and specific measures, and then proposes relevant policy recommendations.