China's BRI: Trade, Investment, and Geopolitical Impact

This dissertation investigates the multifaceted aspects of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), specifically focusing on its expansion and impact within South Asia and Southeast Asia. The research aims to identify the strategies employed by China to enhance its trade and investment activities in the region, analyzing the geopolitical implications and rivalries that have emerged. The study begins with an introduction outlining the research rationale, objectives, and questions, followed by a comprehensive literature review that examines existing research on the BRI, including the initiative's goals, challenges, and the ways it engages people for trade. The research methodology section details the approach taken to gather and analyze data, while the discussion section presents the findings and their implications. The dissertation concludes with recommendations based on the research, offering insights into the future of the BRI and its impact on the global south. The dissertation covers topics such as the BRI's basic understanding, effective engagement strategies, and the challenges faced by China prior to the BRI, offering a thorough analysis of the initiative's influence and its effects on international trade and investment.

Dissertation
(Identify the ways used in the Belt Road
Initiative (BRI) by the People's Republic
of China to enlarge their trade and
investments in South Asia and Southeast
Asia)
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Overview of the topic.............................................................................................................3
Research rational....................................................................................................................3
Research aim an objective......................................................................................................4
Research question...................................................................................................................5
Significance of the study........................................................................................................5
Structure of the report.............................................................................................................6
Literature review:.................................................................................................................6
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................8
The basic understanding regarding Belt Road Initiative (BRI) by the People's Republic of
China.......................................................................................................................................8
The effective ways used by Belt Road Initiative (BRI) for engaging people of China for
developing trade opportunities in South Asia and Southeast Asia.......................................10
The challenges faced by China prior Belt Road Initiative in terms of trade and investments14
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY...................................................................................................18
DISCUSSION................................................................................................................................23
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION.............................................................................30
References......................................................................................................................................34
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INTRODUCTION
Overview of the topic
China belt and road initiative is a global infrastructure which was developed by the Chinese
government and it is the initiative of development strategy which is implemented by the china
authority. This initiative was taken with the goal of building better connection and cooperation
between six main corridors which encompass of china, magnolia and Russia. The belt road in
China is being promoted by one of the lading group of the nation which is national development
and reform Commission. The ultimate goal is to build a combined large market which make use
of both international and domestic markets. Due to which cultural exchange can be promoted in
order to enhance the mutual understanding and the level of trust among member nations. Such
trust will result in an innovative pattern of proper capital inflows better productivity, and
technology databases. For implementing this initiative various policies and statement were taken
so that the goal of belt road initiative can be implemented effectively (Gong, 2019). The main
reason for this development is to make an effective trade and investment link between the
neighbour country of China. In this the national development commission focuses on building
land and marine network so that they can easily connect with Asia and Europe. This initiative is
also supported in large number by the people of the china as they can see increase in global GDP
in the country (Blanchard, 2019). The main purpose to adopt this strategy is to fulfil the gap
between the infrastructure if Asia. This gap is being identified during the expansion of china’s
Han dynasty. Another main motive behind this is to improve the physical infrastructure along
with the land corridor that will equate old silk road with new silk road. So in the current
investigation, researcher will be focusing on identifying the ways through which Belt road
initiative can be done implemented effectively and engage can be made between the people with
south and southeast Asia (Lam, 2020).
Research rational
In relation to the present study, the main aim of conducting this research is to have detailed
understanding on the topic that is related to the belt road initiative. The current research will help
in understanding about the development strategy which was taken by China with the aim of
building high connectivity across six main corridors. With the assistance of the current
investigation investigator will effectively identify the ways and approaches used by the China’s
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development authority for Belt road initiative. The belt road initiative is taken by the china
government in order to engage people of the country with the trade opportunity available in
south and southeast Asia (Afzaal, 2022). Another big rational for executing the current
investigation is to identify the major challenges which were faced by the China when
implementing the strategy of Belt road initiative. In recent time it is very important for the nation
to build effective transportation facility because it increase the trade and investment between
different nations. It helps in increasing the economy of the nation in greater way (Yuen, 2019).
Apart from this one of the major rational for executing the investigation is to attain dual
perspective in sound manner. Theses dual objective are personal and professional perspective of
the researcher. In respect to the professional subjective, the present investigation will help the
researcher to acquire detailed knowledge on the topic so that current investigation can be done
effectively (Cui and Song, 2019). As well as the existing investigation also helps in developing
various research skill such as communication skill, data gathering skill, problem solving skill and
many more. These skills will be used by the investigator in their future investigation so that
investigation can be done in more appropriate manner. Onn the other hand, with respect to the
professional perspective the current research aids in identifying the ways used by the legal
authority to build effective trade and investment between the countries. These ways and
approaches will further have used by researcher when they will be a part of any Belt road
initiative of the country. Therefore, the present investigation is quite vital to acquire detailed
knowledge on the topic as well as in attaining dual objective in sound manner (Kazmi, 2021).
Research aim an objective
Research aim
To identify the ways used in the Belt Road Initiative (BRI) by the People's Republic of
China to enlarge their trade and investments in South Asia and Southeast Asia.
Research objectives
 To develop basic understanding regarding Belt Road Initiative (BRI) by the People's
Republic of China
 To determine the effective ways used by Belt Road Initiative (BRI) for engaging people
of China for developing trade opportunities in South Asia and Southeast Asia
 To examine the challenges faced by China prior Belt Road Initiative in terms of trade and
investments
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Research question
 What is the basic understanding regarding Belt Road Initiative (BRI) by the People's
Republic of China?
 What is the effective ways used by Belt Road Initiative (BRI) for engaging people of
China for developing trade opportunities in South Asia and Southeast Asia?
 What are the challenges faced by China prior Belt Road Initiative in terms of trade and
investments?
Significance of the study
The main significance for the current research is to determine the need of Belt road
initiative for China. The current research is being conducted to know the necessity of the belt
initiative for china in order to enhance their trade and investment between south and southeast
Asia. The topic is chosen for carrying out the current investigation in order to know the
importance of development strategy taken by the china government for their nation. This
research project helps in improving the knowledge of the investigator towards the impact of belt
road initiative in increasing the trade transaction of the country (Yu, 2019). Apart from this the
existing research is also helpful for various stakeholders that would be researchers, scholars,
nation and general public. For the scholar the present investigation is quite significant as it will
help them to acquire detailed knowledge on the concept of belt road initiative. This research will
provide them the understanding on trade and investment and why it is necessary for the country
to have effective trade and investment. In context of the researcher the present investigation is
important as they can use this investigation as their foundation so that they can carry out their
future investigation in more appropriate way (Hoh, 2019). This research also helps them to know
about the phenomenon and data collection method which they can use to gather and analyse
information for the study. In respect, to the general public the present investigation helps them to
know the reason why the initiative is being taken by the nation. As well as it also aid them the
opportunity which are available for them to make trade with other nation. In last for the country
this investigation assists them to know the impact of this trade and investment initiative on the
economy of the nation. Thus, the current investigation is quite significant and useful topic in the
areas of economy (Rimmer, 2018).
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Structure of the report
In this dissertation, investigator of the study covers five different chapter in order to
complete the whole dissertation in effective and systematic manner. The chapters which will be
covered in the above research are as:
Introduction: In each and every investigation the first chapter which is conducted by
investigator is the introduction chapter. This is one of the most crucial chapter in the research as
it the whole investigation depends upon the introduction part. In this section various vital
components of the dissertation will be included such as research aim and objective, research
question, rational of the study, significance of the study, overview of the topic etc (Bloomberg
and Volpe, 2018).
Literature review:
The second chapter in the dissertation is literature review part which discussed about the past
published information on the chosen topic. This is the chapter which contain the secondary data
of the selected topic. The second hand information is acquired so that knowledge about the topic
can be gained. There are various sources through which past information gathered by third party
can be obtained such as books, online site, government site, magazine and many more (Biggam,
2018). In context of the present research, it will outline the understanding regarding Belt Road
Initiative (BRI) by the People's Republic of China. Also, determining the effective ways which
are used by Belt Road Initiative (BRI) for the purpose of engaging people of China for
developing trade opportunities in South Asia and Southeast Asia. As there are various issues
which are faced during China prior Belt Road in terms of trade and investments which will also
be demonstrated in the research.
Research methodology: Third chapter in the project is methodology section which talks
about the ways and method through which data for the study can be gathered and analysed. This
is one of the vital section in the investigation because this section chooses the right method and
technique for extracting and measuring information. In this section various components are
included such as research philosophy, approach, strategy, choice time horizon and sampling
method. this section also helps in identifying the data collection source for the investigation
(Holley and Harris, 2019).
Data analysis and finding: next chapter in the dissertation will be data analysis and finding
chapter. In this chapter researcher choose the technique through which raw data can be inspected
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in right ways so that useful information can be gained. It is very important to analysis the data
because it helps in finding the quality outcome for the study. In this section the result which is
obtained by measuring the information is then presented in different format depends upon the
type of information (Joyner, Rouse and Glatthorn, 2018).
Conclusion and recommendation: Last chapter in the dissertation is conclusion and
recommendation chapter. Conclusion is that section which contain the short summary of the
overall investigation. It is that part which provide the important information of the investigation.
Conclusion holds the summarised and quantity result of the investigation. On the other side,
recommendation is the past which provide some suggestion to the organisation or the sector in
order to overcome from the issue or problem faced by the industry (Williams, 2018).
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LITERATURE REVIEW
The basic understanding regarding Belt Road Initiative (BRI) by the People's Republic of China
According to the point of view of Chinyong Liow, Liu, and Xue (2021) Belt Road
Initiative is referred to the plan to develop the trade routes which are helps to connecting the
China with the world. BRI is a long-term policy and investment which helps to provides many
opportunities to China to use their considerable economy projects around the world. It is a
strategy which is initiatives by the people's Republic of China. It can be defined as some
priorities such as policy coordination, infrastructure connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial
integration, and connecting people and it is also called as new silk Roads. It is the one of the
most ambitious and important infrastructure projects. It is the strategy to cover global
infrastructure projects which is adopted by the government of China. It is associated with the
very large program of investment which is develop the railways, roads, ports and airports, it is
also developing the telecommunication and power plants network by connecting with each other.
It is the project that can increase the foreign investments, reduce poverty, expand trade. There are
some objectives of BRI which is focus on the building and realizing five connections between
the BRI corridors which includes enhancing policy coordination, reinforce trade and investment
cooperation, improve the infrastructure connectivity, moving forward to financial integration and
supporting people (Abban, and Hongxing, 2021). It is the strategy which is used by People's
republic of China that helps to connect the Asia with Europe and Africa via maritime and land
networks, that is improving the regional integration, stimulating economic growth and increasing
the trade. It is the long- term plan which is aiming to the development of infrastructure projects.
There are some more BRI benefits which includes it is helps to reconfigure relationship, shifting
the power, reroute the economic activity within the states. China's Belt and Road Initiative aims
to improve the connection and relation between China with the more than 80 countries via
regional corporations and infrastructure investments. The purpose of BRI to economic
development and connectivity of inter-regional. It is helps to maintain the world economy. It is
expanding the trade, increasing the foreign investment by reducing the trade costs. It is the
foreign policy and economic strategy of the Republic peoples of China. New infrastructure can
be help to fill the gap of infrastructure and policy gaps which can be costly in order to rising the
public debt. It is representing the risks to the large and big infrastructure projects. The risks can
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be exacerbated by the limited sources such as debt sustainability, environmental risk,
government risks, social risk and many more.
In the opinion to JianBRIg (2020) the Belt Road initiatives is defined as the initiative
plan which is undertaken by the people’s republic of China. It is helps to connect the routes by
developing the China with the nation. BRI is known as the long-term policy and investment that
provides the opportunities for the China to uses the economy projects all overall the world. BRI
is the strategy that is initiatives by the people’s republic of China. It is defined as some major
priorities such as infrastructure connectivity, policy coordination, financial integration,
unimpeded trade and connecting the people each other. BRI is also known as the new silk road.
It is the important ambitious and infrastructure projects. It is the term that cover the overall
global infrastructure projects which is adopted by the China’s government (Plotka, 2020). BRI is
associated with very large program of investment that helps to develop the sources such as
railways, airports, roads and ports. It is developing the power plant networks and
telecommunication by connecting with each other. It is the strategy which helps to increase the
reduce poverty, foreign investments. It is the strategy that is provide policies in a well manner in
order to implement the BRI in an effective and efficient manner. The benefit of BRI allows to
expanding the trade, increasing foreign investment through reducing the trade cost. New
infrastructure helping to fill the infrastructure and policy gap but it can be costly in relation to
public gap. BRI represent the risks with the large and big infrastructure project. The risk can be
recognised by some limited sources including environmental risk, debt sustainability, social risk,
government risk and so on. The BRI objectives focus on the projects and realizing some
connection between corridors BRI including reinforce trade and investment, policy coordination
infrastructure connectivity, financial integration and supporting people. It is aiming the
development of the infrastructure projects.
According to the point of view of Pechlaner and et.al., (2020) China's Belt and Road
Initiative (BRI) is referred to the strategy that is initiated by the people of China's Republic. The
aim of BRI is to connect the Asia with Africa and Europe via land and networks for improving
the regional integration, stimulating economic growth and increasing the trade. It is defined as
the strategy which efforts to develop the independent marker for China, expanded, political
power, and grow China 's economic and creating the right conditions and solution for the China's
that they can build the high technology economy. It is also known as the strengthen of China's
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connectivity with the world. BRI is the combination of the new and old projects, covers the
geographical scope and including the efforts of soft infrastructure, cultural ties and hard
infrastructure. In other words, China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is defined as the new silk
road which is the one of the most compulsive infrastructure that aims to connect the Asia to
Europe by expanding China's economic and political influence. It is also known as the
development strategy which is aiming to build the co-operation and connectivity across the six
main corridors of economy. It is associated with the large infrastructure programs of investment
for developing the roads, railways, airports, ports as well as power plants and
telecommunications networks (Van Noort and Colley 2021). It is increase the umbrella
mechanisms for the trade of China's bilateral with BRI partners. BRI is important for the China
because it provides an opportunity to use the financially considerable economic by infrastructure
projects around the world. It can help the transports by expanding trade, increasing the foreign
investment and reducing the poverty by lowering trade costs. It is a large project planning that
aiming to improve the regional co-operation by building the better connectivity among the
countries. The main purpose of BRI is to promote the economic development and inter-regional
connectivity which is help in better connection and power with other countries. It is helps to
establishment of long-term partnership. It is improving the convenience of cooperation. It is
increasing the quality of investment and financial system. It provides to China is strongest and
strengthen in the connectivity with world which is the biggest advantage for the China's
development (Battamo, and et.al., 2021). BRI provides many advantages such as it reduces the
travel times for economics along with the transport by reducing the trade cost by up to 12
percent. It is also increasing the trade by between 2.8 and 9.7 for the economy and by 1.7 and 6.2
percent for the world.
The effective ways used by Belt Road Initiative (BRI) for engaging people of China for
developing trade opportunities in South Asia and Southeast Asia
As per the point of view of Djajadikerta and et.al (2022) there are many effective ways
that are used by China’s belt road initiative. It is developing the strategy to for the better relation
and connections between six major corridors such as China, Mangolia and Russia. It is the best
supporting group which is lead to aim promote the work and services. It is represented by the
reform commission and national development. it is measured as the China’s main infrastructure
initiative which helps to develop the policies and statements. White belt road also has some
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geopolitical views and goals which are related to the neighbours that are economically close to
China. Belt road initiative is the strategy that is initiated by the China’s republic peoples to
connects the Asia and Europe via networks of land and maritime in order to improve the trade
simulation and regional integration economic growth. it is considered as the policy that is
introduce by the people’s republic of China. Belt road initiatives (BRI) is the strategy which aim
to develop the country and increasing the communication between the countries. Belt road
initiative is using the integration of countries to develop and engaging the people of China that
helps them to develop the trade opportunities within South Asia and Southeast Asia (Chan,
2021). The strategies of belt road initiatives help to develop the overall China by encouraging the
people which helps in developing the trade opportunities. They used the strategy to introduce the
new infrastructure within the country to fulfilled the gaps of debt sustainability, government risk,
social risk and many more. There are some numerous investors of BRI which is connected with
the China and its applications.
The risks can be exacerbated by the. As the Belt and Road transport have the power to
enhance the level of trade and foreign investment. It is one of the essential global infrastructure
project which is connected to other regions. That is why china is looking forward to build route
with the help of BRI initiative (Mao and et.al., 2019). It is one of the best plan to highlight and
enhance the level of trade and investment while connecting with various continents that is Asia,
Africa, and Europe along the ancient trade routes. In addition to this, it has various projects such
as Super grid, Ice silk Road, Sea based Maritime and many others. China has spent trillions of
money for the purpose of construction of better infrastructures. In that process, China has signed
a cooperation agreement with various countries (Wang and et.al., 2022). China belt and road
initiative is one of the development strategy which is implemented by the China authority. It can
be said that this initiative was taken in order to make and build higher level of connection and
cooperation between different main corridors. Such as china, magnolia and Russia and the belt
road in China is being promoted by one of the lading group of the nation which is national
development and reform Commission. In order to implement this initiative, there are various
policies and statement were taken so that the goal of belt road initiative can be implemented
impressively (Bandiera and Tsiropoulos, 2020). The main reason for this development is to make
an effective trade and investment link between the neighbour country of China. In this the
national development commission targets on building land and marine network so that they can
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easily connect with various region such as Asia and Europe. This initiative is also supported in
large number by the people of the china as they can see increase in global GDP in the country
(Mitchell, 2021).
According to the view of Vinod (2020) the effective ways which is used by the China’s
Belt Road initiatives is to developing the strategy for developing the trade opportunities within
the South Asia and Southeast Asia. They are developing the strategy for build the better
connection between six major corridors including Mangolia, China and Russia. It is also known
as the best supportive group that is leading to promote the work and services of projects. It is
representing by the national development and reform commission. It is measuring by the China’s
main infrastructure initiatives that is developing the statements and policies. There is white Belt
Road also some have geopolitical views and goals that is determining the neighbours which are
related to the economically closing to China (Sigdel, 2020). They are using the strategy to
initiatives with China’s republic people to connecting the bond between the Asia and Europe
through networks of maritime and land in relation to improving the trade of simulation and
integration regional for the economic growth. China’s republic people initiate with the policies
by consider the Belt Road initiatives. Belt Road Initiatives is aiming to develop the trade
opportunities within the South Asia and Southeast Asia by engaging the people’s republic of
China. They provided new infrastructure projects within the country to develop the gaps such as
debt sustainability, social risk, government risk and many more. They used to communicate with
the people of China that helps to build the strong relation and developing the infrastructure
within the country. They provide many policies to connect the China with the world.
As per the point of view of Ranjha, (2022) there are some effective and efficient ways
that has been used by the Belt Road Initiative (BRI) for engaging people of China for developing
trade opportunities in South Asia and Southeast Asia. The ways help them to increase the
investment and trade in the BRI. It is helping in very board scope encompassing strategic,
cultural and economic connectivity. The ways also help the BRI in security for energy, food and
resources by taking the leadership between regional with one of the most important neighbours.
The effective ways that has been used by BRI also help in better connectivity, openness,
innovations, development, energy and food security, development of balanced regional and many
more. It is helps to improve the efficiency and effectiveness in countries that is the benefit for the
countries. the effective ways that has been used by Belt Road Initiative (BRI) such as they are
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