The evolution of the port network along the Maritime Silk Road: From a sustainable development perspective

This paper explores the evolution of the port network along the Maritime Silk Road (MSR) motivated by the need for sustainable development. First, considering the influence of sustainable development on the attraction of ports, we optimize the AB model, a generator based on connectivity. After this the evolution simulation is carried out based on the data of 55 major ports along the MSR. The results of evolution simulation show that, due to sustainable development, ports in Southeast Asia and South Asia are expected to become the core nodes in the network while the status of China's ports in the network will decline significantly. The results further show that the frequency of nodes close to the mid-value increases significantly and that ports currently under construction, such as Melaka Gateway, Hambantota and Gwadar, will have an important impact on the network structure. This study serves as a useful reference for port development along the MSR from a sustainable development perspective. •This paper explores the evolution of the ports network under the influence of sustainable development.•Evolution simulation is carried out based on the data of 55 major ports along the marine silk route.•A useful reference for ports development from the perspective of sustainable development.