Final answer:
Emperor Qianlong of China rejected British advances for trade and diplomatic relations, maintaining a policy of self-sufficiency and limited foreign influence, contrasting with Czar Peter the Great's engagement with the West.
Step-by-step explanation:
Czar Peter the Great actively sought help from the British, showing a willingness to engage with Western powers. In contrast, Emperor Qianlong was not as open to Western influence or assistance. Qianlong rejected Lord George Macartney's mission on behalf of the British king, insisting that nothing of value could be offered by Britain and refused the establishment of a permanent British embassy in China.
At that time, China maintained a system that allowed trade exclusively through the southern port of Canton (Guangzhou), keeping European interaction limited and controlled, reflecting a policy of limitation and self-sufficiency against foreign influence.
The early Qing emperors, including Qianlong, were Manchus who embraced Chinese culture and Confucian values. Emperor Qianlong was a patron of the arts and adamant about maintaining Chinese cultural and political traditions, which influenced his approach to foreign relations and his reluctance to change the established order.