The Emerging Dimensions of China–Pakistan Economic Cooperation and CPEC: Significance and Challenges

This study examines the economic dimensions of China–Pakistan cooperation, mainly focusing on the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). CPEC is a key project under China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The project is considered significant for Beijing’s initiatives to “bridging the gap” with its landlocked regions, especially its Xinjiang autonomous region. CPEC is regarded as a “game-changer project” for Pakistan’s economy, a “flagship project,” and a “gateway project” for BRI overall. CPEC plays a significant role in developing both countries, particularly Pakistan, through regional integration, connectivity, and economic growth. Besides the importance of CPEC, this study examines specific challenges for the CPEC project. It identifies the influential role of the US in South Asia as a global challenge, India’s proxies and political uncertainty in Afghanistan as regional challenges, and security, terrorism, and lack of consensus among political parties and provinces as internal challenges. This study is carried out by using exploratory case studies for qualitative data relying on primary data, including the interviews of high officials, academics, and other experts on the subject, and secondary sources such as journal articles and books, among others. The paper provided policy input to the Government of Pakistan and China regarding the importance of CPEC for the country's economic development and urged both countries to look into domestic, regional, and global challenges for this project.

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Notes

Interview with Dr Talat Shabbir Director China Study Centre, Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad, Pakistan, by author February, 2019.

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Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Professor Hongsong Liu for his supervision. The authors (Muhammadi and Iqtidar Hussain) are thankful to the School of International Relations and Public Affairs (SIRPA) Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai, PR China, and the China Scholarship Council (CSC) for providing an immense opportunity to complete a Ph.D. during the years 2016–2020.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

1. Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS), Suite # 506, 5Th Floor Evacuee Trust Complex, Agha Khan Road, F-5/1, Islamabad, Pakistan Muhammadi
2. School of Public Administration and Sociology, Asian Research Center, Hohai University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China Muhammadi
3. School of International and Public Affairs, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 1954 - Huashan Road, Shanghai, 200030, People’s Republic of China Hongsong Liu
4. Strategic Vision Institution, Plot No: 10B/10C, SRB Business Center, Lower Ground Floor, Super Market, F 6 Markaz, Islamabad, Pakistan Iqtidar Hussain
5. School of Public Administration and Sociology, Hohai University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China Iqtidar Hussain

1. Muhammadi