Online channel strategies under different offline channel power structures for the Belt and Road of China

ABSTRACT

This paper explores the online channel strategies adopted by Chinese manufacturers with regard to the Belt and Road. It also investigates the effect of offline channel power structures and maritime transportation costs on online channel mode selection and pricing strategies. The offline channel power structures are classified into three types, namely, Chinese manufacturer Stackelberg (MS) structure, vertical Nash (VN) structure, and foreign retailer Stackelberg (RS) structure. Furthermore, a game model is developed among the Chinese manufacturer, foreign retailer, and cross-border e-tailer to investigate the interactions among offline channel power structures, maritime transportation costs, and Chinese manufacturers’ online channel mode selection. The results show that Chinese manufacturers’ preferences for the online agency selling mode increases correspondingly with the decrease in their market position and bargaining power. Moreover, foreign retailers can obtain higher profits in the online agency selling mode under the VN structure. However, the level of profit for foreign retailers depends on the intensity of their competition with cross-border e-tailers under the MS and RS structures. Finally, consumers in countries along the Belt and Road can obtain a higher surplus in the online agency selling mode under all of the structures.     

长江经济带沿江铁路通道规划建设必要性分析

长江经济带发展正式上升为国家战略。沿江铁路通道横跨我国长江经济带,是我国长江经济带发展战略的支撑性通道。以沿江通道区位特征、产业布局、经济特征为依据,通过分析沿江铁路通道的发展现状、存在问题,通道内不同时期铁路运输需求,以及对拟建项目的功能定位进行分析,从而提出沿江铁路通道规划建设的必要性。     

“中—尼—印铁路通道”线路设计及建设可行性分析

随着我国"一带一路"倡议的推进,跨国运输通道的建设成为倡议实施的关键环节之一,而我国建设复杂地质条件下跨国基础设施的经验尚不丰富。"中—尼—印铁路通道"是一条途经尼泊尔,连接中国和印度2个大国的运输通道,基于实地考察,分析该通道建设的必要性及建成后的效益,对线路进行初步规划,并总结该通道建设的难点:铁路轨道坡度大;沿线区域地质构造复杂;周边基础设施落后,施工条件恶劣;大量深长隧道以及大跨径高桥梁;环境以及气候条件复杂。同时对沿线隧道以及桥梁的建设可行性进行分析,并给出施工建议:沿线隧道采用以TBM法为主、钻爆法为辅的施工方法;桥梁建设则因地制宜,根据不同区间的地质特点,采用相应的建设方法。     

Foldable container in empty container repositioning in intermodal transportation network of Belt and Road Initiative: strengths and limitations

In 2013, the concept of the ‘Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road (Belt and Road)’ was initiated by the Chinese government, which involves Asian, European and African continents and their adjacent seas. Logistics plays a core role in such a large framework of economy and trade. In recent years, China, European Union, and Southeast Asia pay much attention to the design and development of the intermodal transportation network towards both economic and environmental efficiency. In this paper, we propose an empty container repositioning model in the intermodal transportation network of Belt and Road (B&R) Initiative by considering both standard and foldable containers. In this model, empty containers are repositioned from the inland of the original area, such as China, to other areas of B&R Initiative related countries and regions, such as European Union and Southeast Asia. We develop a mixed integer linear programming model to determine the optimal repositioning of empty containers via the intermodal transportation network. An Artificial Bee Colony algorithm is developed to solve large size problems in practice and numerical experiments are conducted to show the efficiency of our proposed algorithm. We provide managerial insights regarding the impact on the network performance of foldable containers transportation.     

Effects of the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative on the wine import logistics of China

China’s Belt and Road (BR) initiative is expected to facilitate international trade between the countries involved. In this study, we review the special requirements of wine logistics and the market growth potential of wine consumption in China. A model minimizing generalized logistical costs is developed and applied to wine imports in China, so that the best candidate cities in which to locate transport gateways and distribution centers can be identified. Our analysis suggests that the most preferred gateways are Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong, which all have similar delivery costs. In comparison, Beijing and Chongqing have much higher delivery costs, mainly because they do not have good access to marine transport and/or efficient domestic distribution networks. For long-distance intercontinental transport of large volumes of wine, marine shipping remains the only viable delivery mode. However, wine distribution within China extensively uses air, road, and water transport. Therefore, cities with excellent multi-modal transport services are better positioned to become wine logistics gateways. Our study also highlights the importance of value-added services and good government support, which are important factors that influence distribution costs and quality.     

海峡西岸经济区城市带轨道交通规划方案研究

结合福建省中心城市和省际周边城市地理位置和发展情况,提出海峡西岸城市带轨道交通的功能定位。根据城市带中既有、在建和规划的铁路资源,分析了福建省铁路中长期规划实施后的主要线路能力适应情况。提出了基于铁路富余能力的海峡西岸城市带开行城际轨道交通线网方案的初步设想和福州、厦门、泉州三大中心城市市郊铁路的规划方案。     

基于G1法的海外铁路项目风险评价方法研究

为了提高海外铁路项目风险评估和项目管理水平,解决“一带一路”倡议下铁路“走出去”的技术难题,建立了海外铁路项目风险评价指标体系和多级评价模型。首先,根据层次分析法的原理,按照项目风险来源性质的不同,建立了由5个1级指标和15个2级指标组成的海外铁路项目风险评价指标体系;其次,利用G1法对专家关于指标重要程度的排序意见进行集结,计算得到指标的权重;然后,通过将各风险指标的定性评价划分为5个等级,并对各等级进行定量赋值,建立了海外铁路项目风险多级评价模型;最后,利用委内瑞拉迪阿铁路进行实例分析。实例分析结果表明:迪阿铁路项目的综合风险达到6.02,属于较高风险,评估计算结果与实际相符,从而验证了模型的有效性和实用性。     

Structural relationships among shipper’s perception,value, and choice intention of Korea–China train ferry service

ABSTRACT

The logistics environment between China and Korea has been changing rapidly in line with the ‘Go West’ policy of international trade and logistics area. The policy includes the BRI, Western Development Strategy, and Korea–China FTA. Against this background, the Korea–China train ferry (KCTF) is being newly illuminated as an alternative mode to cope with the logistics environment between Korea and China. One of the key success factors of the KCTF depends on, among others, shippers’ perception, which will affect the choice and the successful operation of the KCTF. From this perspective, this paper develops seven hypotheses based on the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). We test these hypotheses using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to explore the structural relationship between shippers’ behavioral beliefs influencing the perceived usefulness, the attitude toward and intention to choose the KCTF. The test results confirm that among the behavioral beliefs, transport accessibility in association with an efficient network of inland roads and railway networks is an important prerequisite. In addition, we verified a high statistical significance in the structural relationships among perceived usefulness, the attitude toward and the intention to choose the KCTF.     

关于城市轨道交通“走出去”的思考

结合"一带一路"和"走出去"战略,通过对城市轨道交通行业发展和市场现状的分析,从技术、知识产权、行业标准、国际交流、项目后评价体系、协会引导等方面对行业内相关企业如何走出去进行分析,提出中国城市轨道交通行业整体走出去的相关建议和思路,如以高端产品做引领,带动全产业链走出去、控制知识产权风险、加强项目后评价力度等,旨在为行业相关企业"走出去"提供参考。     

我国公路工程标准国际化现状及建议

为给我国交通运输行业标准化管理提供决策支撑,研究了国家标准化改革及“一带一路”倡议背景下公路工程标准的国际化问题。通过调查研究、比较研究等方法,分析公路工程标准国际化现状、存在的问题、发展形势及需求,总结美国、英国、日本等发达国家在标准国际化发展过程中的经验,在此基础上,提出促进我国公路工程标准国际化的相关建议,包括：建立国际化的公路工程标准体系;提升国际标准化水平;加强标准国际化相关研究;加强与工程所在国标准的对接、互认与融合;整合国家、行业资源,协同推进公路工程标准国际化;搭建公路工程标准国际化基础信息平台;大力开展教育培训及人才培养;扩大宣传与国际交流合作。