Institutional Architecture and Evolution of China-Belarus Strategic Economic Cooperation Under the Belt and Road Initiative

Abstract

Against the backdrop of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China and Belarus have constructed a sophisticated multi-tiered institutional system for economic cooperation, which functions as the core institutional foundation for deepening bilateral trade, investment, and industrial coordination. Adopting a combined approach of documentary analysis and comparative institutional case study, this paper systematically examines the formation logic, hierarchical composition, and operational characteristics of China-Belarus strategic economic cooperation mechanisms. The study identifies three core institutional pillars: top-level diplomatic coordination, the intergovernmental joint committee system, and carrier-platform mechanisms exemplified by the Great Stone Industrial Park. It further evaluates the practical outcomes of these mechanisms across four dimensions—trade expansion, capacity cooperation, cross-border financing, and industrial chain integration—and identifies salient institutional bottlenecks, including gaps in standards alignment and constraints on cross-border circulation efficiency. Building on this analysis, the paper proposes targeted optimization pathways focused on enhancing coordination efficiency, aligning with Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) frameworks, and expanding digital economic cooperation mechanisms. The findings contribute to the theoretical understanding of BRI bilateral institutional building and offer actionable policy references for advancing high-quality China-Belarus economic cooperation.