Soft Power in Foreign Policy - China’s Strategic Use of Trade, Culture, And Diplomacy

In the context of ever changing international relations, countries can not only depend on hard power instruments to produce desired effects. Tools of soft power could be used to achieve national interests. China`s emergence as the second largest economy in the world is the pivotal moment of 21st century. In 1978, China adopted market reforms. Later, China promoted foreign policy of Peaceful Development and Harmonious World. Lately, it has carried out Belt and Road Initiative. It is evident that, China has realised the importance of soft power and adopting diverse initiatives such as Confucious Institute, Beijing Olympics, Shanghai Expo and many more to create is benign image.