Economic Development through Migration - Facilitating Skilled Migration to China through the Belt and Road Initiative

Abstract

Strengthening people-to-people ties is part of the Belt and Road Initiative’s (BRI) cooperation priorities and to be realised, among others, through student and academic exchanges, research cooperation, joint vocational training as well as tourism. Through national legislation and efforts in bi-and multi-lateral cooperation on student, academic and personnel mobility, China occupies a key role in shaping the way migration develops along the BRI. The findings suggest that new skilled migration legislation in China, geared towards foreigner with tertiary education, paired with BRI cooperation efforts and visa facilitations, is opening comparatively more opportunities for skilled nationals of BRI countries. BRI nationals are more often exempt from visas and have access to targeted talent attraction and retention programs. Nevertheless, up to now these efforts are mainly undertaken by the Chinese government and skilled BRI nationals are not being attracted to China under bilateral employment agreements.

Keywords: academic migration, Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese migration law, migration and development, skilled migration, student migration

JEL Classification: K37, J24