China-Pakistan Economic Corridor- tightrope or boulevard to prosperity?

HKUST IEMS Thought Leadership Brief No. 31

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Naubahar Sharif

The China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a key component of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) through which China aims to connect East Asia with Europe through connected land and sea routes. Defenders of the CPEC argue that it is a ‘game changer’ that will transform Pakistan’s struggling economy. Critics of the CPEC describe it as a modern-day New East India Company, implying that its purpose, and likely effect, is to turn Pakistan into a Chinese client state China. Neither of these extreme views about CPEC is likely true; Pakistan should be able to take benefit from important features of the CPEC while mitigating the disadvantages.

Taking Stock of the Belt and Road Initiative 

The author will discuss the insights from the study on which this Brief is based at the event "Taking Stock of the Belt and Road Initiative" to be held on 20 September 2019 in Shanghai.  

A simplified Chinese version of this brief is available here.  

 

Acknowledgment

This research is supported by the Strategic Public Policy Research Funding Scheme from the Central Policy Unit of the HKSAR Government. 

 

About the author

Naubahar Sharif is Associate Professor of Social Science and Public Policy, and an HKUST IEMS Faculty Associate. More >> 

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