The "Belt and Road" Initiative and China's sporting goods exports: Basic characteristics and policy evaluation

The paper analyzes the basic characteristics of China's sporting goods exports using data from the CEPII BACI database from 2007 to 2019, combined with the social network analysis method, and evaluates the policy effect of the "Belt and Road" initiative implementation on the impact of China's sporting goods exports using the difference-in-differences method. The research findings are as follows: 1) The overall scale of China's sporting goods exports has consistently expanded, marked by a rapid increase in the total export volume. The exported goods exhibit a comprehensive range of product categories, indicating an ongoing evolution in the structural composition of products. Geographically, the export destinations are widespread, covering a diverse range of countries. However, there is a noticeable concentration trend in sporting goods exports, with gymnastics and track and field equipment being the primary export commodities. These sporting goods predominantly penetrate markets in Southeast Asia, West Asia, and Eastern Europe. In the sporting goods trade network associated with the "Belt and Road" initiative, China holds a central role, with Thailand, Turkey, and Poland progressively advancing toward central positions. 2) The implementation of the "Belt and Road" initiative has had a positive impact on China's sporting goods exports, and the policy's influence is particularly significant on the countries and regions along the "Belt and Road". The implementation of the policy does not favor the breathing growth of sporting goods exports, but it does promote the deepening of the export product. Based on these perspectives, it is imperative for China to establish a robust and sustainable trade network, proactively foster sporting diplomacy, maintain strategic focus, and enhance product quality to effectively propel the development of a sporting powerhouse.