By Hu Jiangyun, Research Team on “The Economic and Trade Cooperation along the Belt and Road Routes”, Research Department of Foreign Economic Relations, DRC

Research report No.85, 2017 (Total 5160) 2017-8-1

Abstract: Since reform and opening up, China has set up a number of open-oriented leading platforms such as economic and technological development zones and hi-tech industrial parks, which have played an important role in China's economic and social development. With the advance of economic globalization drive and China's enforced comprehensive national strength, more and more enterprises including some leading enterprises have expanded their overseas presence through the establishment of overseas economic and trade cooperation zones, economic and technological development zones and industrial chains, which have carried out an all-round economic cooperation with the host countries and achieved some positive progress. The research team of the Research Department of Foreign Economic Relations of DRC made a field survey in China-Egypt Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone and visited the Economic Bureau of Suez Special Economic Zone. In addition, the research team also made field surveys in Thai-Chinese Rayong Industrial Zone and Sihanoukville Special Economy Zone in Cambodia. Based on the above-mentioned field survey results and a case study on the Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone, this paper gives an introduction to the development of and the opportunities and challenges facing the overseas economic and trade cooperation zones, and puts forward relevant policy options on how to bring into play the role of these economic and trade cooperation zones to boost the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Key words: overseas economic and trade cooperation zones, cooperation, opportunities, challenges