TITLE:
Research on East-West Collaboration in China: Phases of Evolution, Research Hotspots, and Future Prospects (1996-2025)
AUTHORS:
Longlong Duan, Mingyu Jiang, Yan Li, Chenchen Lu
KEYWORDS:
East-West Collaboration, CiteSpace, Bibliometrics, Hotspots, Future Prospects
JOURNAL NAME:
Theoretical Economics Letters,
Vol.16 No.1,
December
26,
2025
ABSTRACT: This study employs CiteSpace to conduct a visual analysis of 298 publications on East-West collaboration policies from the Peking University Core Journal and CSSCI databases, spanning from June 1996 to September 2025. The research analyzes four dimensions—evolutionary stages, distribution of research forces, current hotspots, and future directions—to identify key developmental pathways in East-West collaboration. A knowledge map was constructed based on highly cited literature, keyword co-occurrence, clustering, emergent terms, and timeline analysis. Findings indicate that research themes have evolved from early focuses on poverty alleviation and targeted assistance to contemporary emphases on common prosperity, rural revitalization, and vocational education transformation, reflecting a conceptual shift from unidirectional “blood transfusion” to bidirectional “blood production”. Academic resources demonstrate a pattern of overall dispersion with localized concentration. Building on current research frontiers, this article suggests that future research and policy should prioritize refining evaluation systems, deepening industry-education collaboration mechanisms, and strengthening interdisciplinary and cross-regional coordination to facilitate the transition of East-West collaboration from policy-driven initiatives to precision governance.