The Impact of China's Belt and Road Initiative on Agricultural Trade Status: A Network Analysis of Countries Along the Route

Abstract

Amid increasing volatility in the global agricultural supply chain, many countries are intensifying their pursuit of international agricultural collaboration to enhance their presence in global markets. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) serves as a critical platform for promoting mutually beneficial agricultural cooperation. Utilizing panel data from 151 countries spanning the years 2001–2020, this research empirically investigates the policy effects of the BRI on the agricultural trade status of these countries from a trade network perspective. The findings indicate that the initiative significantly boosts the trade network status of BRI countries, with marked advantages observed for countries along the “One Road,” economic corridor countries, and developing countries within the BRI framework. Further mechanistic analyses suggest that the success of the BRI can be attributed to improvements in the “five-pronged approach,” which includes enhancing facilities connectivity, promoting unimpeded trade, fostering financial integration, facilitating policy communication and strengthening people-to-people bond. These results highlight the reciprocal and beneficial nature of the BRI in the context of agricultural trade, providing valuable insights for improving the quality of agricultural trade under the BRI and advancing the contribution of agricultural trade to building a community of shared interests.