Abstract:

Since the start of operation of the China-Europe Railway Express (CR Express) in 2011, with its increasing domestic and international influences, it has become one of the hotspots of academic research in China. Based on the data from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database, the number of publications related to the CR Express has increased by about 70% annually, but the proportion of those published in highly cited journals is still relatively low. From the geographical perspective, the research on the CR Express by Chinese scholars mainly focuses on four aspects: 1) estimation of its regional scope with competitive advantages; 2) analysis of competition among the operating regions; 3) optimization of the spatial layout of its transportation network; and 4) analysis of its regional impacts and differences. The shortcomings of the current research mainly include that theoretical research has not yet followed the practice; the research on the overall reform of the CR Express is still lacking; and the research is still limited to the national territory. Therefore, future research on the CR Express should accelerate the theoretical framework construction, produce more systematic and targeted countermeasure recommendations, and deepen the exploration at a larger spatial scale.

Key words: China-Europe Railway Express, regions with competitive advantage, interregional relationship, regional impacts