A Study On The Opening And Development Of Yanbian In Response To The Belt And Road Initiative

The Belt and Road Initiative refers to the Chinese Central Government’s recent strategic focus on the development of Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. This significant strategy is advanced under the backdrop of economic globalization, political multi-polarization and the requirement of peaceful development. The Chinese government aims at taking this initiative to forge a politically trusting, economically blending and culturally harmonizing community of common destiny. The significance of the Initiative is profound for the development of both China and its related neighboring countries.This thesis dissects the Belt and Road Initiative from the Marxist standpoint. By collecting, compiling and analyzing strategies and actions taken by typical cities and provinces in reaction to the Initiative, this thesis is able to offer striving directions for Yanbian Korean Autonomous Region’s inevitable development. In addition, this thesis also applied the SWOT analysis to discuss the advantages, disadvantages, opportunities and challenges for Yanbian’s participation in the Belt and Road Initiative. Explorative suggestions are also made to the opening and development of Yanbian. Constructive as they are to Yanbian, these suggestions can also serve the development of Northeastern China and Tumen River region as well.The first chapter demonstrates the objectives and impacts of the thesis. Domestic and international literatures are critically reviewed here. The second chapter emphasizes on the themes, significance and case studies of the Belt and Road Initiative. Its principles, framework, cooperation mechanisms, key contents and significance are elaborated. The implementation of according strategies in Heilongjiang, Liaoning and Gansu provinces are examined and utilized to serve as a guiding material for the establishment of practical strategies for Yanbian. The third chapter is the SWOT analysis for Yanbian’s participation in the Belt and Road Initiative. In this chapter, the geological, economical and cultural advantages of Yanbian are discussed. Problems such as weakening policy advantages from the central government, outdated infrastructure, and sagging collaborating platforms are pointed out. Moreover, the internal and external opportunities and challenges brought to Yanbian via the Initiative are also studied. The last chapter states the author’s suggestions on Yanbian’s opening and development under the backdrop of the Initiative. The author recommends Yanbian to stand on top of its advantages and strengthen its current short boards. To be specific, Yanbian needs to enhance policy safeguard and communications, improve the construction of transportation infrastructure, deepen the economical collaboration with neighboring countries, and initiate cultural exchanges. Only in this way can Yanbian become the new opening door for the Belt and Road Initiative to head northwards.