China's growth: a chance for an 'Eastern Rise'
- By Pradyumna Prasad Upadhyay
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E-mail China.org.cn, August 9, 2016
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Workers assemble compressors at a workshop of Snowman Co. Ltd., a private manufacturer of refrigeration equipment, in Fujian Province, on March 15. [Xinhua] |
There's little doubt that the coming decades will see favorable results from China's hard work and well-planned economic growth. China's emergence in the global market in a very short period has made some big powers rethink their strategies regarding how to remain in a hegemonic position.
It is only natural that those in a hegemonic position wish to stay in the status quo. USA, Japan and the EU have been enjoying economic well-being for several decades. Now the situation is seemingly changing. Highly populated countries in Asia such as China and India are on the path towards high economic growth and great infrastructure development achievements. They have huge populations with a high consumer demand base of the goods and services.
China's tremendous economic growth in recent years has given it a chance to break the prevailing hegemony of the Western world. However it will be very hard for China to do this alone without any support from other major Eastern players - most importantly India.
China is now a major player in the global economy. Its hardware-based capacity cannot be challenged. However, in terms of the software part, the developed world seems far ahead. We know knowledge rules societies. The East needs knowledge and infrastructures at the same time to get into a powerful position. We know that Chinese philosophy and civilization has a long and illustrious history. However, China can still benefit from scientific innovation.
China is aware that English prevails everywhere. Most of the knowledge sources of the world - online documents, websites, online media, social networks, books, libraries, videos, recordings, etc. - are in English. This situation is a major hindrance for China to become a top global leader.
China understands this very well.
Unity gives power. China will definitely work strategically with its close neighbors, especially with India, to fulfill the gap of knowledge. When India's knowledge-based industry and China's hardware and infrastructure capability join together they will have enough courage to lead the world in the very near future.
Eastern philosophies have the same religious roots and approach towards life. Taoism, Buddhism and Hinduism have very similar perceptions towards life, society and core cultural values. They may seem fragmented, but mutual interests will push these philosophies together again.
Hegemony should not be understood as the power to suppress the weak and poor. The world has watched and felt the Western hegemony for more than two centuries. The support so far from the developed world to the developing world is evidence of the behavior of hegemons. We can see that poverty maps in many parts of the world haven't changed despite so called "great efforts" from big powers. The Western prescription of development to many developing countries has totally failed. The developing world needs its own leadership.
China's rise creates new hope for the Eastern world. The rapid growth of China's economy and India's booming knowledge-based industry will lead the world sooner or later if these two countries come together. With efforts for a strategic partnership between them, they will develop an "Eastern Rise."
Pradyumna Prasad Upadhyay is Under Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Nepal.
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