A Survey Study of the Pakistan Study Centers of Chinese Universities under the Context of the Belt and Road Initiative

Abstract

This paper explores the development of Pakistan Study Centers (PSCs) within Chinese universities and their crucial role in strengthening the academic, cultural, and policy ties between China and Pakistan. These PSCs have emerged as essential platforms for fostering a deeper understanding of Pakistan's history, culture, society, politics, and economy. This study comprehensively examines the historical context, geographical distribution, development stages, research areas, achievements, and challenges faced by these centers. It answers key questions about their establishment and significance, providing an overview of the 21 PSCs located across China, offering expertise on diverse aspects of China-Pakistan relations. This research highlights the strategic significance of Pakistan to China, emphasizing the importance of academic and cultural exchanges in promoting bilateral relations. The study reveals a growing commitment to academic and research collaboration, with each PSC focusing on specialized areas, including security, economics, culture, politics, and more. These centers also act as think tanks, policy advisors, and talent incubators, contributing to the sustainable development of Pakistan studies in China. However, challenges such as limited funding, language barriers, talent development, research depth, and the absence of unified information sharing mechanisms pose hurdles to the PSCs. To address these issues, recommendations are presented, emphasizing the allocation of financial resources, the importance of language proficiency, the nurturing of a talent pipeline, the facilitation of fieldwork opportunities, the establishment of collaboration mechanisms, and the development of a global perspective. Furthermore, fostering academic collaboration with Pakistani counterparts is proposed, strengthening international cooperation and extending the long-term vision of the PSCs.