China's economic diplomacy in South Asia: the regional opportunities and challenges

China's global rise over the past few decades has given rise to economic diplomacy in its foreign policy as a tool to help economic growth and pursuing national interests in the international arena. What is striking about this type of Beijing's diplomacy is the use of regional cooperation to advance economic interests in various regions, including South Asia. The main purpose of this article is to examine the multiple dimensions of China's economic diplomacy in this region. Relying on analytical-descriptive method and using various library resources and economic statistics, the present article seeks to provide an answer to the question of what are thce characteristics of China's economic diplomacy in South Asia? In this regard, it can be said that despite the significant economic opportunities in the region for Chinese economic diplomacy, there are significant challenges against it. Findings show that China's economic diplomacy in South Asia benefits from opportunities such as the region's large consumer market, the region's need to attract foreign investment, the transit position of the Indian Ocean, the capacity of the SAARC to develop cooperation and geo-economic and geopolitical opportunities in Gwadar port. Challenges of this type of diplomacy include the presence of rival powers, the fragility of stability and security of regional governments, and competition and economic weakness within the region.