Evaluation of the Connectivity Level of Port Infrastructure between China and “Belt and Road” Countries

This paper employs the Coupling Coordination Degree Model to develop an assessment framework for appraising port infrastructure connectivity between China and “Belt and Road” countries. It incorporates 13 pertinent factors within the four dimensions of integration, coordination, development, and sustainability. The results show that from 2006 to 2020, the level of port infrastructure connectivity of 27 countries has achieved cross-level growth guided by the “Belt and Road” initiative. Geographically, substantial disparities in port infrastructure connectivity exist between Asian, European, African countries, and China. Asian nations exhibit the highest connectivity levels, while Africa lags behind. These disparities primarily stem from variations in port infrastructure development, policy support, and geographical distance. Consequently, countries should prioritize infrastructure enhancement, cultivate political trust, and refine collaboration mechanisms as essential measures to address these disparities.