IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/chieco/v87y2024ics1043951x24001287.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Enhancing China's image in Africa: The role of the Belt and Road Initiative

Author

Listed:
  • Liu, Ziwei
  • Ding, Yibing

Abstract

Growing distrust makes it challenging for countries to retain positive reputations and images worldwide. Employing data from the eighth round of the Afrobarometer and the multiperiod difference-in-differences (DID) method, this paper examines how China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) affects its image in Africa. This study reveals that the BRI can significantly improve China's image among Africans. It affects Africans' perceptions of China's image in a highly heterogeneous manner. The BRI boosts China's image by increasing foreign direct investment, foreign aid, trade, and cultural communication with Africa. Moreover, domestic mainstream public attention and public praise and criticism can mitigate the BRI's impact on Africans' perceptions of China. These findings highlight the importance of economic cooperation and media portrayal in forming a country's image. Additionally, the paper offers suggestions for both China and Africa to build a high-quality BRI, thus improving their bilateral economic cooperation.

Suggested Citation

  • Liu, Ziwei & Ding, Yibing, 2024. "Enhancing China's image in Africa: The role of the Belt and Road Initiative," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:chieco:v:87:y:2024:i:c:s1043951x24001287
    DOI: 10.1016/j.chieco.2024.102239
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1043951X24001287
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.chieco.2024.102239?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Martin S Roth & Jean B Romeo, 1992. "Matching Product Category and Country Image Perceptions: A Framework for Managing Country-of-Origin Effects," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 23(3), pages 477-497, September.
    2. Leonidas C. Leonidou & Bilge Aykol & Saeed Samiee & Nikolaos Korfiatis, 2022. "A Meta-analysis of the Antecedents and Outcomes of Consumer Foreign Country Image Perceptions: The Moderating Role of Macro-level Country Differences," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 62(5), pages 741-784, October.
    3. Wang, Cheng Lu & Li, Dongjin & Barnes, Bradley R. & Ahn, Jongseok, 2012. "Country image, product image and consumer purchase intention: Evidence from an emerging economy," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 21(6), pages 1041-1051.
    4. Jackson, Karen & Shepotylo, Oleksandr, 2021. "Belt and road: The China dream?," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    5. Baniya, Suprabha & Rocha, Nadia & Ruta, Michele, 2020. "Trade effects of the New Silk Road: A gravity analysis," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    6. de Soyres, François & Mulabdic, Alen & Murray, Siobhan & Rocha, Nadia & Ruta, Michele, 2019. "How much will the Belt and Road Initiative reduce trade costs?," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 151-164.
    7. Lopez, Carmen & Balabanis, George, 2020. "Country image appraisal: More than just ticking boxes," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 764-779.
    8. Liu, Min & Su, Cong & Wang, Fangfang & Huang, Liangxiong, 2020. "Chinese cross-border M&As in the “One Belt One Road” countries: The impact of Confucius Institutes," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    9. Lu, Shuai & Chen, Ning & Zhou, Wei & Li, Shouwei, 2024. "Impact of the belt and road initiative on trade status and FDI attraction: A local and global network perspective," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 89(PA), pages 1468-1495.
    10. Yan Zhi & Di Bao & Changyuan Luo, 2017. "Economic Value of Country Image: Evidence from International Trade and Implications for China," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 25(3), pages 87-111, May.
    11. Du, Julan & Zhang, Yifei, 2018. "Does One Belt One Road initiative promote Chinese overseas direct investment?," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 189-205.
    12. Sijun Wang & Zhen Tang & David W. Stewart & Yongsun Paik, 2023. "Interplay of consumer animosity and product country image in consumers’ purchase decisions," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 54(3), pages 505-513, April.
    13. Peter Magnusson & Stanford A. Westjohn & Nancy J. Sirianni, 2019. "Beyond country image favorability: How brand positioning via country personality stereotypes enhances brand evaluations," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(3), pages 318-338, April.
    14. Liu Haiyue & Aqsa Manzoor, 2020. "The impact of OFDI on the performance of Chinese firms along the ‘Belt and Road’," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(11), pages 1219-1239, March.
    15. In Kyung Kim, 2023. "Country Image and Consumer Choice: The Case of the Beer Market during the COVID‐19 Pandemic," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 71(4), pages 1090-1120, December.
    16. Huang, Yiping, 2016. "Understanding China's Belt & Road Initiative: Motivation, framework and assessment," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 314-321.
    17. Nugent, Jeffrey B. & Lu, Jiaxuan, 2021. "China's outward foreign direct investment in the Belt and Road Initiative: What are the motives for Chinese firms to invest?," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    18. Niki Hynes & Barbara Caemmerer & Emeline Martin & Eliot Masters, 2014. "Use, abuse or contribute! A framework for classifying how companies engage with country image," Post-Print hal-00960485, HAL.
    19. Balabanis, George & Lopez, Carmen, 2022. "Reflective versus unreflective country images: How ruminating on reasons for buying a country’s products alters country image," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(5).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Damoah, Kaku Attah & Giovannetti, Giorgia & Marvasi, Enrico, 2022. "Do country centrality and similarity to China matter in the allocation of belt and road projects?," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 660-674.
    2. Jackson, Karen & Shepotylo, Oleksandr, 2021. "Belt and road: The China dream?," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    3. Lu, Shuai & Chen, Ning & Zhou, Wei & Li, Shouwei, 2024. "Impact of the belt and road initiative on trade status and FDI attraction: A local and global network perspective," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 89(PA), pages 1468-1495.
    4. Nugent, Jeffrey B. & Lu, Jiaxuan, 2021. "China's outward foreign direct investment in the Belt and Road Initiative: What are the motives for Chinese firms to invest?," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    5. Zhao, Yongzhi & Ji, Changjing & Chen, Yangfen & Zhu, Xueqin, 2024. "Who gains, who loses? – The impact of the belt and road initiative on bilateral agricultural trade," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    6. Ouyang, Shanshan & Li, Yanxi & Wu, Haowen & Zhao, Heng & Xu, Runxiang, 2023. "Structure and evolution of the greenfield FDI network along the belt and road," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    7. Koffi Dumor & Li Yao, 2019. "Estimating China’s Trade with Its Partner Countries within the Belt and Road Initiative Using Neural Network Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-22, March.
    8. Jiang, Qichuan & Ma, Xuejiao & Wang, Yun, 2021. "How does the one belt one road initiative affect the green economic growth?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    9. Jiatao Li & Ari Van Assche & Xiaolan Fu & Lee Li & Gongming Qian, 2022. "The Belt and Road Initiative and international business policy: A kaleidoscopic perspective," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 5(2), pages 135-151, June.
    10. Mingchun Cao & Ilan Alon, 2020. "Intellectual Structure of the Belt and Road Initiative Research: A Scientometric Analysis and Suggestions for a Future Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-40, August.
    11. Jin-Young Jung & Wei Wang & Sung-Woo Cho, 2020. "The Role of Confucius Institutes and One Belt, One Road Initiatives on the Values of Cross-Border M&A: Empirical Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-20, December.
    12. Zhai, Wei, 2023. "Risk assessment of China's foreign direct investment in "One Belt, One Road": Taking the green finance as a research perspective," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 87(PB).
    13. Jianhong Qi & Kam Ki Tang & Da Yin & Yong Zhao, 2020. "Remaking China’s Global Image with the Belt and Road Initiative: Is the Jury Out?," Discussion Papers Series 635, School of Economics, University of Queensland, Australia.
    14. Lu, Irene R.R. & Kwan, Ernest & Heslop, Louise A. & Thomas, D. Roland & Cedzynski, Marzena, 2019. "The ivory tower and the street: How researchers defined country image over four decades and what consumers think it means," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 80-97.
    15. Ma, Lin & Song, Zening & Bian, Xuemei, 2022. "The asymmetric dominance of cognitive versus affective country image in driving purchase: Conditioning roles of cognition-affect intra-valence nature and product type," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(5).
    16. Linda Calabrese & Rhys Jenkins & Lorena Lombardozzi, 2024. "The Belt and Road Initiative and Dynamics of Structural Transformation," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 36(3), pages 515-547, June.
    17. Cai, Guowei & Zhang, Xuejiao & Yang, Hao, 2023. "Capacity utilization shifting or resource-seeking? Benefits for Chinese enterprises participating in the belt and road initiative," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    18. Feng, Yusen & Wang, Gang-Jin & Zhu, You & Xie, Chi, 2023. "Systemic risk spillovers and the determinants in the stock markets of the Belt and Road countries," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    19. Haoyuan Ding & Yi Li & Liang Wang & Chang Xue, 2022. "The Belt and Road Initiative, political involvement, and China's OFDI," International Studies of Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(4), pages 459-483, December.
    20. Wang, Banban & Lin, Ping, 2022. "Whether China's overseas energy infrastructure projects dirtier or cleaner after the belt and road initiative?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:chieco:v:87:y:2024:i:c:s1043951x24001287. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/chieco .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.