Rooming the buzzing marketplace in China, I am simply gobsmacked at the sheer range of products in every category I come across. If “consumerism” has a name face, China is it. I mean a country that tops the global ranking for manufacturing with over $2.01 trillion in output. Now put it in the context that manufacturing alone is 27 percent of China’s accumulated national output, constituting 28 percent of the total global manufacturing output. These numbers alone are more than enough to give someone an idea of the magnitude of manufacturing capacity this country possesses – one that is only on an upward trajectory. Astounding! Needless to say, China is closely followed by the US with a manufacturing capacity of around $1.87 trillion. Now if you are still contemplating the fact that China has the potential to further expand this manufacturing capacity, trust me it does. The country has unmatched and untapped human resources and technology potential complemented by vast lands ready to be used at its disposal. Here is another way of visualising China’s unmatched global position as the manufacturing king. Simply analyse its trading partners that are diverse, dynamic and giant consumer-based economies. In the financial year 2022, China’s total global imports were recorded at $2.71 trillion while its exports were an astonishing $3.57 trillion, calculating a trade surplus of $857 billion. The US is the top export destination for Chinese products of over $500 billion consisting of electronics, machinery, and nuclear reactor boilers which are China’s largest import bill to the US at $109.64 billion. The sheer magnitude of Chinese manufacturing and trade is deeply rooted in its political structure. What is truly intriguing and interesting is that China’s second largest export category to the US is toys, games and sports requisites – a category that will continue to see a boom. If we are to look at the percentage consumption of Chinese goods in the US, it went up by 6.3 per cent in FY2022 from the previous year. Even though current economic statistics reveal that the purchasing power of American consumer has declined from 33.60 per cent the year before to 32.50% in 2022, the fact that Chinese products are offered in such a great range whether quality or price their penetration is deep-rooted in the American market. In the light that many US businesses are trying their best to reduce reliance on Chinese products to mitigate various risks they associate with it might be a long-term solution for them. However, that has piqued China’s interest in markets other than the US such as Asia-Pacific and Africa. Also, with E-commerce giants such as AliExpress, it is highly unlikely that Chinese penetration in the global market will be easily neglected. As the US and China look to diversify their trade reliance and strengthen their trade base, countries like Vietnam, South Korea, Taiwan, and India come into play. Analysing the case of India, which is the world’s fifth largest economy recorded total exports of over $759 billion in the FY2022. Hopefully, this comparison must have further clarified the magnitude of China’s unmatched trading strength. How was China able to put itself in such a strong position immaculately is a tale less discussed. The sheer magnitude of Chinese manufacturing and trade is deeply rooted in its political structure. This political structure is designed in a way to accommodate, flourish and push production or manufacturing-based industries within the country by encouraging locals to act as main enablers. This is where Pakistan can learn drastically from its neighbour and perhaps introduce a system that is based on meritocracy, financial sensibility and a long-term plan backed by the federal government. Simultaneously, with China gradually increasing its trading footprint in the Asia-Pacific, Africa and Global North, Pakistan must avail this opportunity to the fullest by ensuring it compliments Chinese efforts and increases its presence. As China is manoeuvring carefully amongst various regional blocs, Pakistan must also position itself in a way that creates economic opportunities for it and leverages from Chinese experience and alliance. Another noteworthy aspect of this trading strength is the gradual rise in the use of the Yuan in place of the US Dollar. International statistics have begun to reveal that the Yuan has seen a rise in international payments. This has sparked the interest of economists and experts globally who now predict a parallel trading system putting added pressure on the US Dollar. The main idea of constantly focusing on Chinese trade strength is a slight glimmer of hope that my words may be heard by anyone in the economic think tank of Pakistan, and they may give it an honest thought. I am of a strong opinion that only if we can put our trade in order, we might turn the economic wheel in our favour. I have continuously presented numerous solutions regarding strengthening the SMEs and local industry of Pakistan, minimising the bureaucratic glitches and enhancing local talents and technology for a globally desirable trading portfolio. The writer is Foreign Research Associate, Centre of Excellence, China Pakistan Economic Corridor, Islamabad