Role of Civilizational Culture in Establishing a New Era in China–Arab States Economic Relations

On May 30, 2024, Beijing hosted the 10^th jubilee ministerial meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF). It intended to open broad horizons for developing China-Arab relationships, based on a common future and civilizational dialogues. Hence, the subject of the present study is constituted by analyzing the role of civilizational culture in establishing a new era in China — Arab states trade and economic relations. The purpose is to identify most significant features of the Chinese and Arab cultures and their relevant business practices, which could assist in navigating more easily while conducting cross-cultural business communications at the levels of states, companies, and individual entities. The relevance of the research relates to the growing importance of non-confrontational political, economic, and cultural tools of “soft power” in enhancing Beijing’s role across the MENA region. The scientific novelty of the article stems from the use of a vast variety of sources in Arabic, Chinese, and Russian, inaugurating some of them into scientific domain. The list of the methods includes comparative and systems analysis, as well as the empirical method of field research, sampling, observation, grouping, generalization, and systematization, following historical, convergent, and synergetic approaches. The results of the study enabled the authors to make recommendations about organizing future expert discussions and scientific publications with the comparative analysis of the Chinese and Arab cultures. The authors concluded that sharing common ethic fundamentals by the Chinese and Arabs could create a favorable ground for fulfilling the Arab dimension of China’s Global Civilization Initiative.

1. Lymar M. On the Impact of Socio-Cultural Characteristics on Economic Accounting Practices (the Example of China). Oriens. Afro-Asian Societies: History and Modernity. 2019;(3):67–78. DOI: 10.31857/S086919080005239–9

2. Weber M. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. Ivano-Frankivsk: East View; 2002. 271 p. URL: https://gpde.direito.ufmg.br/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MAX-WEBER.pdf (accessed on 14.06.2025).

3. Joinson C. Why Managers Need to Think Globally. HR Magazine. 1998;2–7. URL: https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1328&context=globaltides (accessed on 14.06.2025).

4. Polanyi K., Arensberg C. M., Pearson H. W., editors. Trade and Market in the Early Empires. New York: MacMillan; 1957. 382 p. URL: https://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.36501 (accessed on 12.12.2024).

5. Landes D. Culture Explains Almost Everything. In: Harrison L, Huntington S, editors. Culture Matters: How Values Shape Human Progress. Translated by Zakharova A. Moscow: Moscow School of Political Studies; 2002:38–55. URL: https://royallib.com/book/hantington_samyuel/kultura_imeet_znachenie.html?ysclid=mbvzdx4e4z341392764 (In Russ.).

6. Hofstede G. Culture’s Consequences: Comparing Values, Behaviors, Institutions and Organizations Across Nations. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage; 2001. 616 p. DOI: 10.1016/S0005–7967(02)00184–5

7. Leung K., Bond M. H., Schwartz S. H. How to Explain Cross-Cultural Differences: Values, Valences, and Expectancies? Asian Journal of Psychology. 1995;1:70–75. URL: https://psyjournals.ru/en/journals/chp/archive/2020_n1/Tatarko_Lebedeva (accessed on 14.06.2025).

8. Huntington S. P. The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order. New York: Simon & Schuster; 1996. 368 p. URL: https://msuweb.montclair.edu/~lebelp/1993SamuelPHuntingtonTheClashOfCivilizationsAndTheRemakingofWorldOrder.pdf (accessed on 14.06.2025).

9. Dugin A. G. Noomahiya: vojny uma. Civilizacii granic: Rossiya, amerikanskaya civilizaciya, semity i ih civilizaciya, arabskij Logos, turanskij Logos [Noomakhia: Wars of the Mind. Civilizations of the Borders…]. Moscow: Akademicheskij proekt; 2014. 694 p. (In Russ.).

10. Dugin A. G. Noomahiya: vojny uma. Po tu storonu Zapada. Kitaj, Yaponiya, Afrika, Okeaniya [Noomakhia: Wars of the Mind. On the Other Side of the West…]. Moscow: Akademicheskij proekt; 2015. 551 p. (In Russ.).

11. Bardakchyan H. Kh. Kitaj kak hrestomatijnyj primer gosudarstva-civilizacii [China as a paradigmatic example of a state-civilization]. Region i mir. 2021;(6):6–11. URL: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/kitay-kakhrestomatiynyy-primer-gosudarstva-tsivilizatsii?ysclid=mbvyp2aei8134904719 (accessed on 14.05.2025) (In Russ.).

12. Ma Zh. Lun wenhua huanjing, jingji huanjing dui kuaiji moshi de yingxiang [The influence of the paper environment and economic environment on the accounting model]. Journal of Shanxi University of Finance and Economics . 2007;(2):15–35. URL: https://xueshu.baidu.com/usercenter/paper/show?paperid=1aa621274b2b79940f9f1ba1b2c096c4&site=xueshu_se (accessed on 12.06.2025) (In Chinese).

13. Song Y. Qiye wenhua dui qiye jingji fazhan de yingxiang tantao [Discussion on the influence of corporate culture on the economic development of enterprises]. Business Observer. 2024;(6):84–87. URL: https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-QYGC202406025.htm (accessed on 12.06.2025) (In Chinese).

14. Li G. Qianxi zhongguo wenhua dui caiwuguanli de fumian yingxiang ji yingdui celve [A Brief Analysis of the Negative Impact of Chinese Culture on Financial Management and Coping Strategies]. Modern Business. 2015;(12):216–217. (In Chinese). DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1673–5889.2015.12.116

15. Imam M. Obychai i pravila v islame: Hadisy proroka o pravilah povedeniya [Customs and Rules in Islam: Hadiths of the Prophet About the Rules of Conduct]. Ed. Madraimov MA. Moscow — Saint Petersburg: Dilya; 2023. 352 p. (In Russ.).

16. Chen Y. Jin ershinian zhongguo jindai jiatingshi yanjiu shuping [A Review of the Research on Modern Chinese Family History in the Past Two Decades]. Journal of Ningxia University (Humanities and Social Sciences Edition). 2023;45(04):77–87. URL: https://read.cnki.net/web/Journal/Article/NXDX202304012.html (accessed on 10.06.2025) (In Chinese).

17. Zheng J., Cui Y. Zhongguoshi xiandaihua de jiating lunli jiyin yu fazhan xiangdu [The genesis and development direction of Chinese-style modern family ethics]. Shenzhen Social Sciences. 2024;7(05):125–133. URL: https://www.szass.com/attachment/0/80/80538/1219368.pdf (accessed on 14.06.2025) (In Chinese).

18. Wan J., Zhang Y., Song X., Yang Zh. Zhongguo shi qiye de wenhua lianpu [Cultural profile of Chinese enterprises]. Modern Corporate Culture. 2015;(12):24–25. URL: https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTotalXDWS201512015.htm (accessed on 12.12.2024) (In Chinese).

19. Liu R. “Nei chen” yu “wai chen” zhong de jin shi he xihan [“Internal Officials” and “External Officials” in the Qin and Western Han Dynasties]. National Studies. 2003;(3):69–79. URL: https://www.cnki.com.cn/article/cjfdtotalmzyj200303007.htm (accessed on 14.06.2025) (In Chinese).

20. Dou Y. Zhonghuaminzu de “nei tianxia” guan: gainian, weidu yǔ shijian [The Chinese nation’s view of the “inner world”: concepts, dimensions, and practices]. Journal of Ethnology. 2024;15(01):1–13. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674–9391.2024.01.001 (In Chinese).

21. Liuliu X., Qian L., Yuwei H. The Global Civilization Initiative Full of Chinese Wisdom, Injects Fresh Momentum into Bright Shared Future. Global Times. 2023. URL: https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202304/1289306.shtml (accessed on 12.01.2025).

22. Choi K., Kochetkova D. D. Cross-Cultural Analysis of Managerial and Cultural Values in Russia and China. Management Sciences. 2023;13(2):96–108. DOI: 10.26794/2304–022X-2023–13–2–96–108. URL: https://managementscience.fa.ru/jour/article/view/456 (accessed on 14.06.2025).

23. Qi W., Chen R., Cao W., Li X., Chang Y. Zhongguo chuantong wenhua zai yingxiao tanpan zhong de yingyong — Yi kuaguogongsi tanpan jingying wei li [The application of traditional Chinese culture in marketing negotiations — multinational companies as example]. Chinese Market. 2022;27:118–121. URL: https://xueshu.baidu.com/usercenter/paper/show?paperid=195e0cx0u4160p90u26k0gx06h445406&site=xueshu_se (accessed on 12.06.2025) (In Chinese).

24. Sun Y. Cong “huaiyin Hou Liezhuan” kan “shiji” de “yu lunduan yu xu shi” [From the “Biography of Huaiyin Hou” to the “Historical Records,” the “interpretation and judgment are in the preface”]. Young Writer. 2019;18:68–69. URL: https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTotal-QNWJ201918048.htm (accessed on 12.06.2025) (In Chinese).

25. Bibikova O. P. “Negrazhdane” v stranah Aravijskogo poluostrova [Non-Citizens in the Countries of the Arabian Peninsula]. Rossiya i musul’manskij mir. 2023;2(328):68–85. DOI: 10.31249/rimm/2023.02.06. (In Russ.).

26. Smith G. R. Politische Geschichte des islamischen Jemen bis zur ersten Türkischen Invasion [Political history of Islamic Yemen until the first Turkish invasion]. In: Daum W., editor. Jemen. Frankfurt am Main: UmschauVerlag; 1987:136–154. (In German).

27. Basmisirli H. Tracing the Arabism in the Works and Ideas of Abd Al Rahman al-Kawakibi, Rashid Rida, Naguib Azoury, Butrus al-Bustani, and Sati al-Husri. ResearchGate. 2015;1–14. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.22900.96648 URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313010763_Tracing_the_Arabism_in_the_works_and_ideas_of_Abd_al_Rahman_al-Kawakibi_Rashid_Rida_Naguib_Azoury_Butrus_al-Bustani_and_Sati_al-Husri (accessed on 02.06.2025).

28. al-Qawmi va al-qutri fi al-fikr va al-mumarasa fi al-Vatan al-Arabi [Pan-Arab and National Ideas vs. Their Implementation in the Arab World]. In: Materials of the same-name “round table,” held on November 4–6, 1996; Damascus, Syria. Damascus: Publication of the Arab Centre of Strategic Studies; 1999. 394 p. (In Arabic).

29. Abdel H. R. Ikram al-deif fi al-Islam [Honoring Guests in Islam]. Maqall. 2024. URL: https://maqall.net/islamic/honoring-guest-islam/ (accessed on 12.12.2024). (In Arabic).

30. Rudakova M. V. Kurtuaznaya lyubov’ v evropejskoj i arabo-musul’manskoj tradicii [Courtly love in the European and Arab-Muslim traditions]. Prostranstvo i Vremya. 2018;1–2(31–32):66–75. DOI: 10.24411/2226–7271–2018–11031 (In Russ.).

31. Muttaqin Z. The Nature of Excessive Behaviour (Israf) in The Islamic Economic Framework. Global Conference on Business and Social Science Series, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; 2018:8. URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330359139_The_Nature_of_Excessive_Behaviour_Israf_in_The_Islamic_Economic_Framework (accessed on 12.12.2024).

32. Lewis R. D. When Cultures Collide: Leading Across Cultures. 3rd ed. Boston-London: Nicholas Bradley International; 2006. 600 p. DOI: 10.1108/01437730610709336

33. Abdel H. R. Khasais al-akhlyak fi al-Islam [Features of Morality in Islam]. Maqall. 2024. URL: https://maqall.net/islamic/characteristics-morals-islam/ (accessed on 12.12.2024). (In Arabic).

34. Ahmed H. M. How To Start A Halal Business in 2023? The Halal Times. 2023. URL: https://www.halaltimes.com/how-to-start-a-halal-business-in-2023/ (accessed on 12.12.2024).

35. Abdulrahman A. H. Sushchnost’ i soderzhanie islamskih principov finansirovaniya v ekonomike [The Essence and Content of Islamic Principles of Financing in the Economy]. Forum molodyh uchenyh. 2023;6(82):76–82. URL: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/suschnost-i-soderzhanie-islamskih-principov-finansirovaniya-vekonomike (accessed on 14.05.2025) (In Russ.).

36. Imam M. B. Sahih al-Bukhari: The Book of Transactions. Book 21, Hadith 133. Sunnah.com. 2024. URL: https://sunnah.com/search?q=muhaqala (accessed on 12.12.2024).

37. Imam M. B. Sahih al-Bukhari: Sales and Trade. Book 34, Hadith 153. Sunnah.com. 2024. URL: https://sunnah.com/search?q=mukhadara (accessed on 12.12.2024).

38. Imam M. B. Sahih al-Bukhari: Sales and Trade. Book 34, Hadith 133. Sunnah.com. 2024. URL: https://sunnah.com/search?q=muzabana&didyoumean=true&old=munabaza (accessed on 12.12.2024).

39. Abhyankar S. What We Can Learn From the Arab Tradition of the Majlis. House Beautiful. 2021. URL: https://www.housebeautiful.com/design-inspiration/a36423416/arab-majlis/ (accessed on 12.12.2024).

40. Matveenko V. E. Nacional’no-kul’turnye osobennosti verbal’nyh i neverbal’nyh sredstv argumentacii v arabskom oficial’no-delovom stile obshcheniya [National and cultural peculiarities of verbal and non-verbal means of argumentation in Arab official communication]. Rusistika. 2012;4:85–90. URL: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/natsionalno-kulturnye-osobennosti-verbalnyh-i-neverbalnyh-sredstv-argumentatsii-v-arabskom-ofitsialnodelovom-stile-obscheniya?ysclid=mbw099sv1j950577131 (accessed on 12.06.2025) (In Russ.).

41. Bodnar S. N. Arabskij delovoj etiket kak osobaya forma povedeniya [Arabic business etiquette as a special form of behavior]. Moscow: Higher School of Economics online publications; 2017. 9 p. URL: https://publications.hse.ru/mirror/pubs/share/direct/211344682 (accessed on 10.06.2025) (In Russ.).

42. Shagal V. E. Arabskie strany: yazyk i obshchestvo [Arab countries: Language and society]. Moscow: Vostochnaya literatura RAS; 1998. 280 p. URL: https://openlibrary.org/books/OL3758837M/Arabskie_strany (accessed on 12.06.2025) (In Russ.).

43. Zhou R. Ramadan Iftars — Times and Rituals. Global Highlights. 2024. URL: https://www.globalhighlights.com/egypt/festival-ramadan/iftar (accessed on 12.12.2024).

44. Valieva S., Samitov E. O. Vostochnoe i zapadnoe ponimanie prav cheloveka [Eastern and Western understanding of human rights]. Vestnik nauki. 2019;3–5(14):283–288. URL: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/vostochnoe-izapadnoe-ponimanie-prav-cheloveka?ysclid=mbvzx78b90972832451 (accessed on 12.06.2025) (In Russ.).