Attitude differences of regional third countries in major infrastructure cooperation: A case study of BRI infrastructure projects

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1004-9479.2026.09.20250146

Abstract

Abstract:

In international relations, major infrastructure cooperation between initiating and recipient countries often attracts significant attention from regional third countries, which exhibit markedly different attitudes. Grounded in the interaction between elites and the public, this study categorizes third countries' responses into four types: optimistic support, strong concern, wait-and-see, and indifference. The article further distinguishes between elite-driven and public-driven states in attitude formation, deducing dynamic transition pathways across these types. Case studies of Russia (China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway), India (Gwadar Port), Thailand (China-Laos Economic Corridor), Egypt (Port of Piraeus), and Tanzania (Mombasa-Nairobi Railway) reveal that the evolution of third countries' attitudes is influenced not only by geopolitical and economic structures but, more profoundly, by their domestic politics. Accordingly, China should tailor its public diplomacy strategy to specific contexts, thereby mitigating unnecessary suspicions, enhancing mutual understanding among peoples, and reducing resistance to infrastructure cooperation.

Key words: the "Belt and Road" Initiative (BRI), major infrastructure construction cooperation, third countries' attitudes, domestic politics

摘要：

在国际关系中，施动国与接受国推进重大基础设施建设合作往往会引发域内第三国的高度关注，各国态度呈现明显差异。基于精英与民众的互动，第三国的反应可大体归纳为四类：乐观其成、强烈担忧、谨慎观望与视若无睹。精英主导型与民众主导型国家在态度形成上存在差别，由此可以推演出不同类型之间的动态转化路径。对俄罗斯（中吉乌铁路）、印度（瓜达尔港）、泰国（中老经济走廊）、埃及（比雷埃夫斯港）、坦桑尼亚（蒙内铁路）等案例的考察表明，第三国态度的演变不仅取决于地缘政治与经济结构因素，更受国内政治的深刻影响。未来，中国应结合具体情况完善公共外交策略，减少不必要的疑虑，促进民心相通，降低基建合作阻力。

关键词: “一带一路”, 重大基础设施建设合作, 第三国态度, 国内政治

Chenyao LI, Zheyuan DU. Attitude differences of regional third countries in major infrastructure cooperation: A case study of BRI infrastructure projects[J]. World Regional Studies, 2026, 35(9): 31-47.

李琛峣, 杜哲元. 重大基础设施建设合作中域内第三国的态度差异研究——以“一带一路”基建项目为例[J]. 世界地理研究, 2026, 35(9): 31-47.

Figures/Tables 7

References 87

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态度类型	精英支持	精英反对
民众支持	乐观其成	谨慎观望
民众反对	视若无睹	强烈担忧

态度类型	精英支持	精英反对
民众支持	乐观其成	谨慎观望
民众反对	视若无睹	强烈担忧

标号	转化方向	可能性
P₁	视若无睹 → 乐观其成谨慎观望 → 强烈担忧	非常可能
P₂	乐观其成 ↔ 谨慎观望强烈担忧 ↔ 视若无睹	比较可能
P₃	乐观其成 → 视若无睹强烈担忧 → 谨慎观望	较不可能
P₄	乐观其成 ↔ 强烈担忧视若无睹 ↔ 谨慎观望	不太可能

标号	转化方向	可能性
P₁	视若无睹 → 乐观其成谨慎观望 → 强烈担忧	非常可能
P₂	乐观其成 ↔ 谨慎观望强烈担忧 ↔ 视若无睹	比较可能
P₃	乐观其成 → 视若无睹强烈担忧 → 谨慎观望	较不可能
P₄	乐观其成 ↔ 强烈担忧视若无睹 ↔ 谨慎观望	不太可能

标号	转化方向	可能性
P₁	谨慎观望 → 乐观其成、视若无睹 → 强烈担忧	非常可能
P₂	乐观其成 ↔ 视若无睹、强烈担忧 ↔ 谨慎观望	比较可能
P₃	乐观其成 → 谨慎观望、强烈担忧 → 视若无睹	较不可能
P₄	乐观其成 ↔ 强烈担忧、视若无睹 ↔ 谨慎观望	不太可能