Global South continues to drive changes in the global governance system

By Miao Beilei

Published: Nov 16, 2024

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202411/1323179.shtml

In the remaining days of November, the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting and the 19th G20 Leaders' Summit will capture global attention. These two major international meetings, hosted consecutively by Peru and Brazil, highlight the "Global South moment" in global governance.

Amid a backdrop of insufficient momentum for global economic growth and an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape, China and Latin American countries are collaborating on the multilateral stage to jointly uphold the common interests of Global South countries. In the face of hegemony, power politics, protectionism, unilateralism, and the tangible risks of "small yard, high fence," this cooperation will strengthen the unity and resilience of Global South countries and play a constructive role in addressing global challenges and reforming the global governance system.

As a collective of emerging markets and developing countries, the Global South now accounts for over 40 percent of the global economy, profoundly reshaping the global economic landscape and becoming a key force for change in the international order. These upcoming APEC and G20 meetings will strengthen the voices of the Global South and participation in the international financial system, giving more smaller countries a chance to partake in global decision-making. This will help promote a more balanced and stable global governance system.

The Global South has long been a stabilizing force in maintaining world peace. However, due to failures in global governance, the legitimate demands of Global South countries are often overlooked, and many important resolutions passed within the UN framework are not effectively implemented. Currently, the Global South is working together to enhance its representation and voice within the global governance system, assuming shared but differentiated responsibilities, and aiming to play a larger role globally. This collective effort seeks to steer global governance toward a more just and equitable direction.

Development is the master key to solving all problems. The Global South countries, once oppressed and colonized, have now emerged as a vital force in reshaping global governance. This shift is rooted in the fact that over the past 20 years, Global South countries have contributed as much as 80 percent to global economic growth. Only by sustaining and advancing their development can Global South countries genuinely secure fairness and justice within the current global governance system.

In advancing modernization alongside Global South countries, China emphasizes that while pursuing its own path of modernization, other Global South nations should also center their unique cultures, allowing their own national memories and traditions to play a significant role in the modernization process. China has always remembered that it was the developing countries that supported its entry into the UN. Regardless of changes in the international landscape, China remains deeply connected to and rooted in the Global South, viewing it as a stabilizing force for peace, a central force for open development, a constructive force in global governance, and a driving force for cultural exchange. Through tangible cooperation, China seeks to provide sustained momentum to the modernization of the Global South.

In the future, China is willing to work hand in hand with countries of the Global South to practice true multilateralism, uphold the vision of global governance based on extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, and jointly build a more open and inclusive Global South. Together, we will promote the creation of a community with a shared future for humanity and achieve a truly united world.

The author is an assistant research fellow at the Institute of Marxism of the Chongqing Academy of Social Sciences. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn