Written by: Ms. Maryam Raza Head of Women’s Executive Network, TN Media News.
’Visions spur actions and are achieved through actions’’ (President Xi Jinping)
A profound comparative study of diverse civilizations in world history depicts that no power or civilization in the past five thousand years can reach the achievement of ‘’Soft Power’’, which makes the People’s Republic of China, the most respected and admired country in the world. Derived from the core values, China has decoded important symbols of certain dogmas and myths, which were obstacles to interregional connectivity.
With a history dating back more than 5,000 years, the country has made an indelible contribution to human civilization. In the 21st century, the absolute rise of China is the greatest ‘game changer’ as compared to any other evolutionary phenomenon. This can be understood only with a comprehensive study of Chinese social transformation and policies.
In present times, China has combined certain elements for enhancing soft power and building a community with a shared future for mankind. Leadership, visions, policies, governance, robust reforms, and new projects for economic growth are all the key ingredients of the successful conduct of statecraft by President Xi Jinping. Among the explicit benefits these elements bring, China’s soft power is the major theme for an intercultural renaissance in the contemporary period for other countries. The Chinese leadership believes that a change of mindset must happen to learn and grow.
China’s revolution, reconstruction, and reforms are unprecedented undertakings, with no previous examples to serve as a guide. Facing new situations and problems on the way forward and employing indomitable courage and determination, the country has succeeded in blazing a new trail from the unknown to the realms of freedom. All its endeavours have advanced the cause of socialism in China. The government has always adopted the principle of self-reliance vis-à-vis effective reforms and opening up. Thus, soft power has become an essential tool for assisting other states in the journey of common development.
Soft Power and Diplomacy:
Diplomacy is the software for a society’s soft power, and how it can be portrayed is defined by certain key characteristics. The Chinese nation has built up enormous assets/attributes of soft power because of a great civilization, heritage, modern visions, and cooperation. These all attributes have contributed to a fast pace of grand transformation and economic growth with relevance to the profile at regional and global levels. Under the dynamic leadership of President Xi, China has made immense progress in many areas. His successful conduct of statecraft and prudent strategies have made him the most popular leader in the world.
Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the pioneer of China’s Democratic Revolution, once stated, “The tide of history is mighty. Follow it and prosper; resist it and perish.” China is fully implementing the thought on diplomacy for a new era of ‘Socialism with Chinese Characteristics’ and continues working to create favourable external conditions for realizing the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation and promoting the building of a human community with a shared future. China has a correct view of history and its role to understand the international situation. Promoting democracy in international relations, the leadership is faithful, active, and exemplary in pursuing, exploring, and practising democracy. It has implemented democracy throughout China and vigorously promotes democracy.
Intercultural Renaissance and Shared Future:
China has analyzed the situation from an overall, objective, forward-looking perspective and sets practical goals, tasks, policies, and roadmaps. It is President Xi’s sound guidelines that have enabled the country to carry out its work in a well-organized and systematic manner. In this aspect, China has proposed grand initiatives, i.e., Belt & Road Initiative (BRI), building a community with a shared future, dialogue among civilizations, Global Development Initiative (GDI), and many others.
These innovative projects reflect that China is in its best period of development and intercultural renaissance, while the world is undergoing the most profound and unprecedented changes in a century. The leadership is adept at spearheading and overcoming common perils through systematic planning, which denotes a win-win game. Thus, it is anticipated that China’s soft power code will stimulate cooperation among countries with a shared forward-looking spirit and establish cultural linkages.
