Nation set to become global partner for peace, amity

A number of recent and past developments bear testimony to the fact that China is leaving deeper imprints at regional and global levels because of its soft diplomacy focused on consolidating economic cooperation, fostering peace and advocating resolution of conflicts through peaceful means.

This interesting transformation has its roots in historical wrongs committed deliberately and consistently by some influential powers that have left huge gaps of understanding between them and different countries of the world, even their former allies, many of which are increasingly looking toward Beijing for political, economic and military cooperation.

Beijing hosted the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation from Sept 4 to 6, unveiling new projects for Africa's sustainable development.

Since July 23, the diplomatic community in most countries have welcomed an announcement from Beijing about the signing of a China-brokered national unity agreement among Palestinian factions aimed at maintaining Palestinian control over Gaza once the conflict in the enclave concludes. The agreement, signed by long-term rivals Hamas and Fatah, as well as 12 other Palestinian groups, lays the groundwork for an interim national reconciliation government to rule Gaza.

Those who are describing the accord among Palestinian groups as scoring points against the United States are gravely mistaken, rather their remarks are indicative of the perennial bias against China. They should remember that China successfully brokered a peace deal between two traditional rivals in the Middle East, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Iran, in March 2023. Similar analyses were offered then portraying doubts about the ultimate success of the accord but both Riyadh and Teheran are moving firmly on different aspects of implementation and as a result, the two capitals are moving closer to each other.

From both regional and global perspectives, China is increasingly viewed as a stabilizing force for peace, including its proposals and negotiating efforts to end the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

China's eminence in the sphere of diplomacy and international relations is not without a genuine reason as its leadership, especially President Xi Jinping, is a strong advocate of shared prosperity, which, in turn, requires regional and global peace and stability, as is demonstrated by the China-proposed Global Security Initiative. As against some countries' policies of regime change, crippling economic and military sanctions and aggression against sovereign countries on flimsy grounds, China has launched practical and viable initiatives to foster cooperation and enhance interdependence, which offer a firm guarantee for peace and security.

Contrary to the venomous propaganda of the vested interests who describe China's development financing as part of a debt trap strategy in Africa and Asia, the fact remains that Chinese financial and economic assistance is helping nations to address some chronic challenges like poor infrastructure, lack of industrialization, dormant agriculture and inability to exploit natural resources. The Chinese government and banks also favorably consider requests for rollover of debts, providing relief in repayments to economically hard-pressed countries.

China relies heavily on economic statecraft to build partnerships in different parts of the world. This also explains why the historic Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi, launched in 2013 as the New Silk Road today, has partners in over 150 countries, accounting for two-thirds of the world population and 40 percent of global GDP. Xi's vision and programs have been creating vast networks of highways, railways, energy pipelines and streamlined border crossings in different regions of the globe that facilitate the movement of people and goods and serve as symbols of peace and interdependence.

As China has no political or military agenda in pursuing the initiative, it has been widely welcomed in almost all corners of the globe. The huge success of the economically motivated project also explains why rival initiatives launched by some groups of countries could not gain the required level of popularity and are being viewed as tools of colonization.

China's measured response to all sorts of provocations, its focus on economic statecraft, commitment to peace and security and respect for sovereignty of other countries are factors, among other things, that effectively counter all maneuvers aimed at "containing China "and instead today Beijing has its footprints in all parts of the world.

Unfortunately, some Western blocs try to portray China as a troublemaker. But China, under the dynamic leadership of President Xi, has always established its credentials as a peacemaker and champion of growth and prosperity.

Apart from its contribution to promoting reconciliations from the Middle East to Eastern Europe, China has demonstrated its commitment to peace and amity by exercising utmost restraint in the face of extreme levels of provocations on the cooked-up charges of violation of human rights, as well as disputes over island and maritime claims in the South China Sea, the Taiwan question, and issues related to Hong Kong, Xizang and Xinjiang.

It can be said without fear of contradiction that China is fast emerging as a partner of choice for many countries of the world. Keeping in view its mature economic policies, steadfast pursuit of the philosophy of shared prosperity, focus on research and development, and readiness to share experience and technology, the day is not far off when China would effectively lead the world to more balanced, peaceful and sustainable global governance.

The author is Chairman & CEO of Pakistan Observer. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.