International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Research

Authors
Yecheng Yao, Yuejun Sun, Yuwen Lin, Xilin Jiang

Abstract
China’s New Silk Road initiative proposes to duplicate the original Silk Road by establishing both land and maritime transport routes from Asia to Europe and beyond and thereby strengthening international trade for inclusive and mutually beneficial economic growth in all member countries and affected regions. In this regard, this paper examines attitudes toward China’s New Silk Road in terms of its perceived future impact on international cooperation among member countries by investigating how Chinese and German students perceive this impact. The paper also determines those factors they consider to be the most important in terms of a positive impact of the New Silk Road on international cooperation. The paper also investigates those factors considered to be the most important in terms of a negative impact. The results based on a survey of 98 Chinese and German college students indicate that the respondents generally had favorable attitudes toward China’s New Silk Road initiative. Chinese students showed a significantly higher mean than German students. The respondents emphasized trade activity as the most important factor influencing their attitudes toward China’s New Silk Road in terms of its positive effect on international cooperation. Chinese students identified trade activity, and German students also identified trade activity as the most important factor. In terms of the most important factors influencing attitudes toward China’s New Silk Road in terms of its negative impact on international cooperation, Chinese students identified press coverage, and German students also identified press coverage.