In solidarity with a rising Global South

China, which is committed to building a community with a shared future for mankind, stands firmly alongside other developing countries to increase their representation and influence in global governance

The Global South, which refers to countries that are not fully industrialized and uphold the principles of independence, is playing an increasingly important role in major-country relations, regional conflicts and global governance.

Major-country competition has provided the Global South more room for choice. Another reason is the Ukraine crisis. The United States has been imposing sanctions against Russia since 2014. The European Union has imposed 11 rounds of sanctions against Russia since the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis. As of April 2023, the US-led West had imposed over 8,000 sanctions against Russia. However, many Global South countries continue to develop cooperative relations with Russia, upsetting the US and the EU's project of isolating and blocking Russia.

Not taking sides between Russia and the US-led West is clear evidence of the Global South emerging as a strategic force.

In addition, Global South countries have chosen not to take sides in the major-country competition between the US and China. For instance, in a number of regional and multilateral cooperation frameworks such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum, the East Asia Summit and APEC Summit, countries have demonstrated their reluctance to choose sides between China and the US. Instead, they have adopted a hedging strategy by trying to strike a balance.

Since the end of the Cold War, global problems — such as international terrorism, the global financial crisis, global climate change, global energy landscape adjustments, the rise of artificial intelligence, the global COVID-19 pandemic and global supply chain adjustments — have presented common challenges to the entire world. No single country can solve these problems by itself. All countries, including the Global South and the Global North, should vigorously participate in the reform and construction of the global governance system and work together to tackle those challenges.

To start with, the strategic influence of the Global South comes from their participation in the reform and construction of the global governance system.

The common interest of the Global South lies in promoting its modernization and maintaining its political independence, neither being dependent on a major power nor becoming part of major-country rivalry. They seek to pursue a unique and successful path of modernization in line with their own national conditions.

After World War II, led by the US, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, France and other victorious countries, an international political security order centered on the United Nations system and an international economic and financial order centered on the Bretton Woods system were established. However, the system and order mainly reflected the interests and demands of those developed countries, while a vast number of Global South countries had not yet gained independence from the system of imperialism and colonialism.

Thus, there exist unjust and unreasonable aspects in the global governance system. The say and representation of the Global South have been greatly restricted. After more than 70 years of development, the global governance system is facing many difficulties, and reform is a major trend.

Second, as the biggest victim of global problems, the Global South is a firm practitioner in promoting reform and construction of the global governance system.

At present, economic globalization is facing headwinds, global climate change is intensifying, the energy landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, infectious diseases are ravaging the world, global supply and industry chains are being profoundly restructured, and AI technology is progressing with each passing day. Problems caused by these ongoing global changes have exerted enormous pressure on Global South countries.

Peace, stability and sustained development have always been the core demands of countries in the Global South. Thus, they have been actively seeking the reform and construction of the global governance system. The international community should listen carefully to the voice of the Global South, actively adopt their proposals, and support them to become important participants in the reform and construction of the global governance system.

Third, the reform and construction of the global governance system is a systematic project, a unity of reform and creation.

On the one hand, active participation in the reform of the global governance system is imperative for Global South countries.

They can play a constructive role in the reform of the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the World Trade Organization, strengthen solidarity and cooperation among Global South countries, advance the development of cooperative partners for global governance, strive to expand consensus as much as possible, and enhance the representation and voice of developing countries in the reform of the global governance system.

On the other hand, Global South countries can play a pivotal role in the process of creating new international mechanisms for global climate change, digital transformation and supply chain adjustment, among others, by contributing their wisdom and strength.

Fourth, in order to promote the reform and construction of the global governance system, the Global South should focus on strengthening capacity-building.

Global South countries started the modernization process later than Global North countries. They thus have structural shortcomings, particularly in terms of experience, knowledge and talent in global governance.

Consequently, it will be beneficial for countries in the Global South to focus on the topic of reform and construction of the global governance system, foster global governance talents, strengthen the construction of the subject system, academic system and discourse system of global governance, and cultivate a large number of high-caliber global governance talents who know the South, know the world, know the rules and are good at negotiations.

The countries of the Global South could consider not only stepping up the training of globally competent talents, but also actively provide international organizations, transnational corporations and NGOs with excellent talents in global governance, so as to enable them to represent the Global South in the reform and construction of the global governance system at all levels and in all areas of the international community.

Looking ahead, the Global South is making robust progress, with huge potential waiting to be tapped. They are an important force for promoting global development, maintaining global security, and deepening the reform of global governance.

China is a natural member of the Global South. China and other Global South countries share a similar history, a common position as developing countries, and common interests in pursuing development, which make them natural allies in promoting the reform and construction of the global governance system.

China is committed to building a community with a shared future for mankind, and promoting the common values of mankind — peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom, standing firmly on the side of Global South countries, speaking out for Global South countries, actively participating in the reform and construction of the global governance system, and continuously increasing the representation, voice and influence of Global South countries.

The author is deputy dean of the School of Social Sciences and vice-president of the Institute for Global Development at Tsinghua University. The author contributed this article to China Watch, a think tank powered by China Daily. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

Contact the editor at editor@chinawatch.cn.