To benefit more countries leveraging the achievements of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in international infrastructure construction, the Chinese government put forward a third-party market cooperation model for the BRI in 2015, based on the cooperative experiences of Chinese enterprises and overseas multinational companies in third-party markets of countries along the Belt and Road. Since then, China has signed 14 third-party market cooperation agreements with developed nations. Third-party market cooperation under the BRI mainly includes cooperation in products, infrastructure projects, investment, the integration of industry and finance, and strategy.

In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and the de-globalisation trend, it is increasingly difficult to cooperate internationally. The past cooperation approach focusing on self-interest has fallen behind the times. A new concept of cooperation that drives common values and common interests is much needed, and third-party market cooperation under the BRI is one of the best ways to put this into practice.

This new cooperation approach integrates different experiences and technological advantages from three countries to complement one other with their different advantages in markets and labor resources. At the same time, third-party market cooperation focuses not only on economic benefits, but also on national strategy, national value and international moral standards, serving as a strong channel for countries to optimise resource allocation, enhance national benefits and prevent systemic risks.

Download the full report：Third Party Cooperation on the Belt & Road Initiative