The change in global power centers and the emergence of new centers, which have been clearly observed in the last 20 years, have brought along new corridors. This process of change, which has an unusual feature, has led to the opposite direction of the transfer from the West to the East. This brought along the construction process of new corridors and routes.
The Belt and Road Initiative, developed by China with a global vision and announced to the world in 2013, has made a significant impact in the world with the effect of non-globalization and transportation vehicles. The initiative that connects the countries has taken the issue of corridors and routes to a new level.
It is known that on the routes where the Western World is the center, the relations are generally limited between the production center and the market. However, within the scope of the Belt and Road Initiative, China both tries to improve its relations with the countries involved in the initiative and follows a constructive policy in terms of getting to know each other and strengthening the relationship between the countries involved in the initiative. In this regard, Beijing’s purpose is to maximize mutual benefits within the framework of a win-win approach and to ensure security by contributing to the stability of the route and the countries on the route.
Nowadays, change and transformation in the world continue. In particular, developments in informatics and digitalization positively impact the capacity of countries, production centers, and corridors. Transferring information to digital media; allows production to accelerate, the products to be produced with less cost and the transportation of the goods in a shorter time.
Especially when considered within the scope of corridors, the link established between production and markets and the whole process can be compared to an organism. At this point, the Belt and Road Initiative is more of an organism and an organization than a corridor. In the process of ensuring that this whole can act in a healthy and stable way, digitalization is of critical significance.
On the other hand, it can be said that two details stand out in the digitalization process. First, digitization will increase the capacity of the Belt and Road Initiative. This situation will intensify the interest of the government in the enterprise, as it will maximize the gains of the states. Especially today, when economic development is of critical importance for governments, countries will realize the digitalization process as soon as possible in order to make this sustainable. The digitalization of the route and the common will of all countries towards it will bring the simultaneous development of a wide geography.
The second detail is the strengthening of ties between countries. Digitalization will accelerate the flow of information and products between countries, especially at the present time when corridors have become organisms. While the Belt and Road Initiative allows for a geopolitical convergence and geographical connection; the digitalization platforms within the scope of the initiative will add a dimension to this in technology, informatics, and the cyber world.
This situation will enable the relations between the countries to become multi-dimensional. Moreover, when considered within the scope of the win-win approach, it will play a role in the development and deepening of relations. Ultimately, the scope of digital diplomacy will be expanded by going beyond classical diplomacy and the relationship process.
It is clear that the rapprochement between countries and the bond between them will not be limited only to the economic framework. The establishment of digital platforms will encourage the strengthening of ties and multidimensional cooperation between states. In particular, it will allow governments as well as societies to get to know each other through think tanks, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the media
At the present time, the most essential feature of an economic initiative and project is that it affects a country in a multidimensional way. It is obvious that initiatives and established relations have a positive impact on the economies of countries. This ought to reflect positively on all layers of society. At this point, think tanks, NGOs, and media have a significant place, especially in raising awareness of societies and channeling perception positively. Societies that are conscious and benefit directly from the gains are prominent for the future of both relations and the enterprise.
Belt and Road Initiative, with the perspective it offers to the world, has taken transportation and its lines, whose roots are in the depths of history, to a new stage. Furthermore, the change in the world, not from the West to the East; started the period of product transfer from the East to the West.
Nowadays, developments in the world of technology and informatics bring along new processes. In particular, digitization will increase the capacity of the Belt and Road Initiative. In this context, both the national gains of the countries will reach the maximum level and the ties between the countries will be strengthened. Bringing a structural feature to the platforms to be established for digitalization will bring along a more stable process. On the other hand, the inclusion of think tanks, NGOs, and the media in the digitalization process and platforms will also strengthen the support of the Belt and Road Initiative before the communities.