CPEC : giving way to a new era of economic integration in South Asia

Abstract

With recent revelations and unfolding events due to CPEC around the world, especially in India, Afghanistan, US and China, and the formation of potential new economic and strategic blocs. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor seems to be a crucial pivotal point for both the country’s economic prosperity as well as the countries neighboring both the states. The project is aiming to open new and convenient trade routes, increases job opportunities, improve the quality of various sectors of Pakistan, and most of all, strengthen the historical friendship of Pakistan and China. Keeping all this in mind, furthermore, the thesis paper explores the opportunities that CPEC provides to South Asian states especially in the economic sector, will it provide challenges or benefits in this region. The thesis has covered three main questions which includes the discussion of the definition of economic integration and history in the light of the European model. Further, the thesis paper have explored the channels by which CPEC will improve economic integration in South Asia, and how it can work to become follow the footsteps of the European Union regional model. And lastly, the thesis has discussed the type of relations China has had with South Asian countries in history, social, political and economic. The mode of research is qualitative and comparative analysis of different case studies taken from both local and foreign authors. Furthermore, with the help of illustrations and graphs, the paper has explained various trade routes and economic growth patterns over the years for better understanding of readers.