A Comparative Study on CPEC and CCWAEC
The One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative is transforming China"s position across multiple regions. In particular, its role in South and Central Asia is increasing significantly, commensurate with its rising interests in both regions. Central to OBOR are five cooperation priorities: policy coordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration, and people-to-people bonds. This paper presents case studies of two corridors, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the China-Central West Asia Economic Corridor (CCWAEC), mapping political and economic interactions to each of these cooperation priorities. This paper will analyze levels of existing interdependence between China and the states in question in order to determine which cooperation priorities require greater resources and which have already achieved a measure of success. As such, it anticipates future areas of focus for Chinese policy in both regions, indicating a possible trajectory of China"s political and economic interactions in South and Central Asia.