"In school, we were always taught that nations that don't control their populations; cannot progress. China has excelled because of its population; not in spite of it", states Syed Hasan Javed; the diplomat who has spent about a decade in China with Pakistan's diplomatic mission. Speaking at a ceremony to unveil his latest book; "Chinese Soft Power Code"; he highlighted that China's rise as a global leader "is not owed to any oil and gas discovery; wealth from colonization or military conquests". Rather it has been achieved through a persuasive approach to business, to economics and to foreign relations among other spheres of human interaction.
China's soft power has been the subject of some analysis in the past. A Rutgers University dissertation recently highlighted "China's more active and responsible participation in international affairs, which is increasing China's agenda setting abilities and improving its national image.
During the discourse, Professor Dr. Shahida Wizarat drew attention to the establishment of the BRICs bank; rise to prominence of Shanghai Cooperation Organization and other multilateral forums as testaments of China's ever-increasing role as a global influencer.
Participants included a number of business leaders and academicians who all agreed Pakistan must learn from the Chinese example. Participants also highlighted the need to build a cultural corridor between the two nations.
Sindh Information Minister Nisar Khuhro stressed that the deep relations between the two countries must move beyond rhetoric towards active collaboration and mingling. China's rise to global prominence is imminent. The need for Pakistan to is to identify its key drivers and emulate them.