I often hear Chinese comment that foreigners tend to be dazzled by China's classical civilization but show far less interest in contemporary Chinese culture. But a culture that has been weathered by time speaks to the new, just as the new reinterprets the old. In my opinion, traditional culture is not only the root of modern culture but also has an influence on a country's development. And since these intangibles are attractive to the outside world, they are resources for soft power. Glittering concepts from China's rich past, renyi (benevolence and righteousness) are seen in the behavior of many ordinary Chinese people that visitors encounter in China.

Let me offer as an example the Beijing taxi driver who spoke no English but spent an extra hour with me at my destination until my friend arrived. He refused to accept payment for the extra time he spent waiting with me. This kind of goodwill is often experienced in China, which reflects the influence of renyi on Chinese people's behaviors.

I encountered an undergraduate student from Wuhan University in a mall in Nairobi, Kenya, which was attacked by terrorists last September. I asked her why she came to Kenya. She told me that she had elected to spend her summer vacation working as a volunteer in a slum in the Kenyan capital. Undoubtedly, this shows an important manifestation of China's soft power.

In general, renyi is a Chinese Confucian term. I think it refers to kind and correct behaviors. At individual level, renyi means virtue and benevolence, and at state level, the value of renyi is a national soft power resource.

The concept of China's renyi is useful for today's international relations. China adheres to peaceful development, which resonates with the value of renyi. Peaceful development is to seek common security of the international community while securing one's state security.

"China is a sleeping lion," Napoleon once said. "Let her sleep, for when she wakes she will shake the world." Today, China has awakened. And China has shaken the world by her rapid economic growth. The Chinese dream is that hundreds of millions of the Chinese people will build a better world. That dream offers China a good opportunity to talk with the world. With the Chinese dream, China can explain how it plans to incorporates individual dreams, state dreams and world dreams together and promote their harmonious developments. The Chinese dream showcases China's fabulous culture while building its soft power.

The Analects of Confucius writes, "Building outstanding culture and fostering good morals to make outside people respect and admire." It tells people that a country should use culture and values instead of force to make other states accept her. This Confucius thought is so close to what we advocate today in international relations, promoting international cooperation and mutual understanding.

Chinese culture will enhance the charm of China.

(The author is Director of Soft Power Advocacy and Research Centre at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia)