However, China's attitude toward the Middle East and its soft power should not be restricted to passive responses and criticism of the West. China needs to present its own independent stance and attitudes on the Middle East.

From the 1950s to the 1970s, China expressed its radical positions and values worldwide, including providing aid to the "Third World" and its belief that "a nation needs independence, nationalities demands liberation and people want revolution."

Owing to the reform and opening-up, China dropped this attitude and stepped into a new era that centered on boosting economy and a careful diplomatic approach. The strategy China adopted toward the Middle East also evolved to be more practical, realistic and economically orientated.

Nevertheless, China did not convey definitely the change of its stance to the people of the Middle East and other Asian and African regions.

China has stopped promoting its original belief in "independence, liberation and revolution." As a result, the spreading of "liberty, democracy and human rights," widely regarded as mainstream Western values, through non-Western intellectuals like Rushdie and media outlets like Al Jazeera could be all the more influential.

In this regard, China urgently needs to make clear its stance to the world, especially to the Middle East nations and other Asian, American and African states.

China's soft power relies on its characteristic modernization approaches and values, which share considerable similarities with these nations and regions.

The shift of Beijing' stance to keep abreast of the time does not mean rejecting its past inheritance. The emotional bonds and historical ties between China and other developing nations constitute an important part of China's soft power. Whether China's reforms succeed or fail, they could be precious experience for other developing nations.

We should invite media, scholars, governments, non-governmental organizations and enterprises from the developing world to join discussions with China on development and to promote a joint discourse of China working with other developing nations.

The author is a professor at Duke University in the US. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn