China’s recent 8th Silk Road Maritime International Cooperation Forum kept the spotlight on Chinese overseas ports, a subject of continuing attention in the news, among think tanks, and in scholarly circles. Although the bulk of commentary emphasizes a geopolitical angle, others devote attention to the economic value of China’s overseas ports presence, especially in countries that have welcomed Chinese investors, contractors, and terminal operators. Among other gains, they expect greater connectivity, employment growth, and shifts to higher value-added activities. For its part, China touts economic returns from its ports such as higher transport volumes, increased exports, and workforce development in
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