Socio-Cultural Implications of China’s Belt Road Initiative into Pakistan

Lee Keng Ng (College of Business – BII 200A, University of Arkansas Fort Smith, AR 72913, USA)
Balbir Bhasin (College of Business – BII 200C, University of Arkansas Fort Smith, AR 72913, USA Email: [e-mail])
Ahmad Rahal (College of Business – BII 205, University of Arkansas Fort Smith, AR 72913)
Jim Beard (College of Business – BII 204A, University of Arkansas Fort Smith, AR 72913, USA)

International Journal of Small and Medium Enterprises and Business Sustainability
Vol. 5 No. 2 (2020): July

China has embarked on its massive infrastructure development projects across and through its western neighbors, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. This grants China quick access to the Arabian Sea and alleviates its strategic security concerns regarding its vulnerability to the “Malacca dilemma.” This also improves Pakistan’s economic aspects of job creation, infrastructure development, and technology transfer. The differences between the economic prospects and the societal values of the two nations are bound to raise tensions and conflicts. China is a secular country with a culture of homogeneity, aggressiveness, task-orientation, discipline, perseverance, intolerance of others, risk-taking, long term orientation, competition and superiority. Pakistan on the other hand, is deeply rooted in the Islamic religion, lackadaisical, less-disciplined, less focused, passive, short-term oriented and easygoing. This paper evaluates the implications and pitfalls for both countries to avoid for mutual benefits