Marching to an international law powerhouse through cities: An ideational reflection on China’s ‘belt and road’ initiative

Abstract

This chapter intends to perceive China’s Belt and Road Initiative through the prism of the interaction of cities with international law. It argues that the explorative path of constructing a great power of international law would benefit from a firm commitment to promoting the development of the urban dimension of international law and, in this sense, the Belt and Road Initiative provides China with an innate platform opportunity to enhance its competitiveness in the politics of international law.