The Construction of “China- Central Asia- West Asia Economic Corridor” In the Post- Covid Era: Challenges, Prospects and Responses

Abstract

The COVID-19 outbreak since 2020 has had a profound impact on the world. The international cooperation environment in the Belt and Road Initiative is facing new changes and new tasks. China-Central Asia-West Asia Economic Corridor is the most sophisticated one with the largest number of countries and the highest geopolitical complexity among the six economic corridors under the Best and Road initiative. The epidemic has brought more new challenges to the China-Central Asia-West Asia Economic Corridor. Based on the current status of the economic corridor after the epidemic, this paper analyzes the practical problems and challenges that the economic corridor will face from the perspective of the global situation and regional cooperation. From a global perspective, China-Central Asia-West Asia Economic Corridor needs to face the challenges of the "Cold War mentality" caused by the COVID-19 and the trend of anti-globalization. From a regional perspective, the regime, sovereignty and security problems of countries of the route are more serious, the economic structure is irrational, and the level of technological innovation is insufficient. It is suggested that China should work with countries along the route to optimize the economic structure, build the Digital Silk Road, build a community of shared future for mankind, determine the top-level design, formulate specific routes, and promote the construction of economic corridors. This article has guiding significance for the direction of continuing to promote the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative in response to the difficulties of China's construction of economic corridors in the post-COVID era.