The Reciprocal and Symbiotic Effectsof Industrial Relocation between Chinaand BRI Countries

Liu Youjin, Zhou Jian, and Zeng Xiaoming*

Business School, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, China

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

Keywords: Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), reciprocity and symbiosis, global value chains

JEL Classification Code: F21

DOI: 10.19602/j.chinaeconomist.2023.09.04