Review of the Belt and Road Initiative within the First Decade and Future Research Suggestions
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Jan 22, 2026
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the belt and road initiative, regional cooperation, OFDI, infrastructure development, PRISMA
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Abstract
This study categorizes the themes and sub-themes of the articles discussing the Belt and Road Initiative (B&R) through international business perspective, to explore the research trends of B&R in the international business field. Using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) to review the literature on the topic published from 2013-2023, clustered the research content using VOSviewer to identify the topics and keywords of existing research in this field. 104 articles were reviewed and analyzed, revealing three main themes which are regional cooperation, OFDI, and infrastructure development. This study also provides suggestions for future research. The article provides suggestions for researchers investigating topics relating to B&R, by clarifying the main themes for the topic and providing suggestions for future research. For practitioners, this study can assist in making decisions and improve by case comparation, theoretical analysis, and model reference.
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How to Cite
Yang, M., Abd Hamid, H., & Lai, J. (2026). Review of the Belt and Road Initiative within the First Decade and Future Research Suggestions. International Journal of Economics and Management, 4(01), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.54209/iem.v4i01.71
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Decision Economics, 42(3), 570–587. https://doi.org/10.1002/mde.3255
Bhatti, O. K., and Hanjra, A. R. (2019). Development prioritization through analytical hierarchy process (AHP)—Decision making for port selection on the One Belt One Road. Journal of Chinese Economic and Foreign Trade Studies, 12(3), 121–150. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCEFTS-04-2019-0020
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Chang, L., and Cheong, K.-C. (2020). Chinese outward foreign direct investment in Belt and Road countries: Trends, characteristics and policies. Contemporary Chinese Political Economy and Strategic Relations, 6(1), 321–370. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2862571/v1
Chin, M. Y., Ong, S. L., and Kon, Y. Q. (2019). One Belt One Road: A new aspect on income convergence. International Journal of Trade and Global Markets, 12(3–4), 241–249. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJTGM.2019.101544
Dang, J., and Pang, Y. (2020). Border effect of agricultural trade between China and the Belt and Road countries: A computable general equilibrium model analysis. International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, 23(3), 369–389. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.22434/IFAMR2019.0115
Della Posta, P. (2023). The Belt and Road Initiative: Inclusive globalization and poverty reduction. Global Journal of Emerging Market Economies, 15(2), 273–288. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1177/09749101231167448
Du, Q., Deng, D., and Wood, J. (2021). Differences in distance and spatial effects on cross-border e-commerce and international trade: An empirical analysis of China and one-belt one-road countries. Journal of Global Information Management, 30(2), 1–24. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.4018/JGIM.20220301.oa6
Fan, D., Zhang, Y., Huang, X., and Su, Y. (2023). Varieties of institutional systems, the belt-road initiative, and the patterned investment flows. International Business Review, 32(4). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibusrev.2023.102123
Garlick, J. (2020). The regional impacts of China’s belt and road initiative. Journal of Current Chinese Affairs, 49(1), 3–13. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1177/1868102620968848
Ghanem, O., Xuemei, L., Alam, K. M., and Baig, S. (2021). The effectiveness of freight costs on trade potentials between
China and European Union, Middle East, North African countries under China-Pakistan Corridor. International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics, 13(3–4), 327–359. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJSTL.2021.113988
Gholizadeh, A., Madani, S., and Saneinia, S. (2020). A geoeconomic and geopolitical review of Gwadar Port on belt and road initiative. Maritime Business Review, 5(4), 335–349. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1108/MABR-11-2019-0051
Hassan, M., Mahmood, Z., Janjua, S., and Asif, N. (2022). Evaluating megaprojects from a sustainability perspective: A case of China-Pakistan economic corridor (CPEC). Journal of Chinese Economic and Foreign Trade Studies, 15(2), 150–170. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCEFTS-10-2021-0063
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Iqbal, B. A., Rahman, M. N., and Sami, S. (2019). Impact of Belt and Road Initiative on Asian economies. Global Journal of Emerging Market Economies, 11(3), 260–277. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1177/0974910119887059
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