This year marks the 12th anniversary of the BRI. During this period, the BRI has evolved from a vision into reality and from a general framework into concrete projects, becoming the world’s most popular international public good and the largest international cooperation platform.
It has also been dubbed as the biggest development project of the 21st century, showing its immense ability for socio-economic transformation and trans-regional connectivity.
It seems that BRI has further geared domestic as well as qualitative development around the globe and Tianjin is the prime example of this phenomenon. According to many published reports and statistical data, Tianjin is significantly contributing to the BRI, particularly through its role in trade, infrastructure development and skilled workforce training. Its foreign trade with BRI partner countries has exceeded 40 percent, with a substantial increase in trade with private enterprises, showing its sustainable growth and the potential of its private sector in transforming economies of BRI trading partners.
Moreover, Tianjin’s Luban Workshops have become a value addition in developing qualitative human capital, making bridges of learning, technical skills and industrialization along with value additions to local communities and their economies in terms of poverty eradication and job creation. They have successfully trained over 60,000 skilled professionals in BRI countries. Tianjin is indeed a natural access point to the rest of Asia and will have a key role in the development of China and the BRI in its second decade. According to Chinese official figures, from 2013 to 2022, Tianjin’s total trade with BRI partner countries reached more than 3 trillion Yuan (US$418 billion) and its future prospects are healthy and bright.
Critical analysis reveals that during this period, trade with BRI partner countries contributed by the city’s private enterprises increased from 54.78 billion Yuan in 2013 to over 142 billion Yuan in 2022. The private sector now accounts for more than 40 percent of Tianjin’s foreign trade with BRI partner countries. Additionally, Tianjin’s import value of automatic data processing equipment and its parts from BRI partner countries soared by 480 percent in 2022 compared with 2013. The exports of mechanical and electrical products to BRI partner countries during the period clearly demonstrate industrial diversification and qualitative productive channels. The total export value of lithium-ion batteries, solar cells and electric vehicles earned an average annual growth of 17.9 percent over the past 10 years.
Tianjin is also actively involved in infrastructure projects, enhancing both physical and institutional connectivity within the BRI framework. The Tianjin Free Trade Zone (TJFTZ) is attracting foreign investment and contributing to the city’s economic growth, with a stable foreign trade value and increasing utilization of foreign capital. Tianjin’s strategic location and port facilities make it a connecting hub in the BRI’s transportation network, facilitating the movement of goods and people between China and other BRI countries. Its qualitative innovation, modernization, digitalization, AI and openness support BRI projects, contributing to the development of smart cities and other cutting-edge initiatives.
Interestingly, Tianjin’s cultural institutions and historical sites, including the former foreign concessions, are also playing a role in fostering cultural exchange and understanding between China and other BRI countries. Thus, it is emerging as a cultural hub of BRI multiculturalism and human diversity, paving the way for strong mutual understanding and discarding the notions of western imperialism, protectionism and unilateralism while advancing shared global prosperity.
Expectations are very high as the SCO annual Heads of State meeting is going to be held in Tianjin. Policymakers of China should place greater emphasis on strengthening mechanisms to promote high-quality cooperation, with a strong focus on innovation and technological advancements such as artificial intelligence (AI), 5G and renewable energy among all BRI countries. Moreover, the integration of advanced technologies, such as AI tools like DeepSeek, into the BRI framework can be a game changer, benefiting all participating countries while reinforcing China’s role as a global leader in technology and development.
Unfortunately, incidents of unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise, creating global economic uncertainty. In this context, the BRI offers a platform for open cooperation, providing greater stability and certainty for developing nations and fostering regional economic growth. The role of Tianjin as easy access to qualitative development is vital for the further progress of the BRI. Hopefully, this will expand collaboration, creating more win-win outcomes and fostering shared prosperity among nations.
Since its inception, the BRI has achieved remarkable accomplishments that have captured the world’s attention, not only promoting economic development in countries along its routes but also facilitating deeper integration between China and the world. According to official figures, in 2024 Tianjin’s GDP reached 1,802.432 billion RMB, a rise from 1,721.179 billion RMB in 2023. The Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (TEDA) significantly contributed, achieving a regional GDP of 258.1 billion Yuan with a 5.8 percent year-on-year growth rate. TEDA accounted for over one-seventh of Tianjin’s GDP and played a crucial role in driving high-quality development.
Tianjin continues to serve as a key economic, industrial and logistical hub while driving reforms and cultural integration. In 2024, the region’s gross domestic product reached 11.5 trillion Yuan (about $1.6 trillion), almost doubling that of 2013. Its acceleration in innovation, industrial collaboration and infrastructure connectivity among BRI countries is commendable. As an automobile import and export hub in northern China, Tianjin Port operates over 30 roll-on/roll-off shipping routes to Europe, the Middle East and South America, enhancing services to enterprises and coordinating with global shipping companies.
In 2023, Tianjin attracted 331 collaborative projects from Beijing through market-oriented mechanisms with a total investment of 183.25 billion Yuan. The city continues to focus on scientific and technological innovation, industrial renewal and new productive forces. In 2024, its GDP grew by 5.1 percent, supported by 12 key industrial chains such as AI, biomedicine and new energy. A national territorial spatial plan has also tasked Tianjin with strengthening the northern international shipping core area and enhancing its role as a gateway for further opening up.
