With a nearly one-third contribution to global economic growth, China is positioning itself as a key player in reshaping the international landscape. Beijing asserts that it has played a pivotal role in lifting not only its own economy but also those of other nations, by implementing projects that stimulate growth and create economic opportunities for developing countries.

Following the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative, a $900 billion venture involving investment projects across more than 50 countries, the world’s second-largest economy is now planning new commitments to drive substantial investments in AI, industrial capacity, and digital collaboration centres.

Beijing believes that these commitments will encourage other states to pursue collaboration with it. Institutionally, China has established innovative multilateral organisations such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the New Development Bank, addressing global infrastructure needs while promoting economic equity. These initiatives are likely to capture the interest of the Global South, which is increasingly wary of the dominance of global monetary institutions that impose stringent conditions on loans to developing countries, often to safeguard the interests of Western capitalist nations.

On the economic front, China is not violating the principles of a free market economy; rather, it is employing them in a way that strongly protects its financial and commercial interests while also creating economic opportunities for Western countries. This approach encourages Western capitalist businesses to invest in China, despite the efforts of their governments to politically isolate the country. China’s strategic use of free-market principles appears to be effective, as it continues to attract foreign investments despite the criticism from Western media regarding subsidies that Beijing provides to its domestic........

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