https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7804-3639
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ABSTRACT
This article examines China’s ‘pragmatic cooperation’ approach in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) using the Sino-Turkmen natural gas engagement as a case study. The disputes between China and Turkmenistan about the natural gas pricing mechanism, supply and prospective development have worsened after the request for pragmatic cooperation within the BRI. This article suggests that depoliticized economic diplomacy – such as advocating for pragmatic cooperation – does not necessarily avoid political disputes. Instead, mutual awareness is the key to achieving a win–win result.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Additional information
Funding
The research was supported by the Science Foundation of China University of Petroleum, Beijing [grant number 2462020YXZZ054].