I see this as a very misleading claim. Nowhere do I find instances of China's leadership evident in its dealings with different countries. China looks solely after its interests. Its dealings or "strategic partnership" with other countries is solely to exploit that country's resources, expand its own businesses into those countries or to sell military hardware. Apart from these things, show me where China has provided leadership to its "strategic" partners?
China does have promise, there is no question about that. But what they utterly lack is a vision. Take the erstwhile British Empire or the Soviet Union or the present day USA and its allies. Each had a vision for the world, each through their dealings with other nations left behind a legacy of development and progress. What has China done? Or for that matter what vision has China shown? NONE!!!!
Being militarily powerful and having partnership with other countries does not ensure security and prosperity to those countries without a vision whatsoever. Hell, China wasnt even the first responder during Pakistani earthquake or floods more recently or denial of monetary assistance for which Pakistan had to turn to IMF! And they are supposed to be "all weather BFF friends"!
I would like to be proved wrong here, but this is my observation.