A Study on the Impact of Cultural Difference Awareness on Opportunity Recognition in Entrepreneurship Among International Students in China

Supporting the development of international students in China can help to promote economic growth and Chinese culture, as well as the consolidation of the “Belt and Road” construction process and international exchanges. This paper utilizes the rootedness theory to investigate the impact of cultural differences in cognition on the identification of entrepreneurial opportunities for international students from countries along the “Belt and Road” through field interviews with several international students from these countries. The study found that: (1) The level of cultural difference awareness directly and positively affects the identification and utilization of entrepreneurial opportunities by international students. (2) Communication effectiveness plays a mediating role in the process of cultural difference cognition on the identification of entrepreneurial opportunities by international students. (3) The external carriers of cultural difference awareness of international students in China include the Chinese dining table culture, trade habits, and social etiquette, and the internal factors are mainly in the personal cultural interaction, emotional experience, and adaptation to the Chinese culture. This study reveals the key role of cultural difference awareness in the identification of entrepreneurial opportunities for international students in China, which can help international students discover unique business opportunities through adapting to Chinese culture, and promote talent retention and economic development in China.