The Interactive Relationship between Shaanxi Port Economy and Urban Economic Development—Take Xi'an Xianyang International Airport as an Example

As an important channel linking domestic and foreign markets, port development can directly stimulate the growth of the regional economy.The northwest inland ports serve as pivotal hubs within the framework of the "Belt and Road" initiative, a strategic development policy aimed at enhancing regional connectivity and economic growth. By fostering the development of port economies, these regions can significantly augment their interconnectivity and foster robust economic and trade partnerships with nations situated along the Belt and Road corridors. This academic study takes Xi'an Xianyang International Airport as its subject of in-depth inquiry. By constructing panel data, it computes the dynamic relative concentration index (DCI). Subsequently, it examines the impact of the airport's development on the growth of the host city from a comprehensive and in-depth perspective.The main conclusions include: (1) there is a positive correlation between the urban GDP and the total import and export of ports, the total amount of import and export freight at the port, and the total amount of urban fixed assets investment on urban development.(2) There exists a positive correlation between the number of entries and exits at the port and urban GDP. However, this correlation is not as significant as that between the total amount of imports and exports at the port and the total amount of import and export cargo at the port.(3) The DCI value experienced a gradual increase from 2004 to 2006, during which the coastal city relationships were predominantly port-driven. Subsequently, from 2006 to 2008, the DCI value saw a gradual decline, yet it remained above 1, indicating that the coastal city relationships continued to be port-driven. Between 2008 and 2016, the DCI value persisted above 1, maintaining the port-driven nature of coastal city relationships. However, from 2017 to 2022, the DCI value dropped below 1, signaling a shift towards urban-driven coastal city relationships.