Working together to build a modern Global South

THE world today is confronted with unprecedented and accelerated changes. An important feature of the changes is that the collective rise of developing countries is gaining momentum.

The rise of developing countries as a whole is based on and reinforced by their collective modernisation.

Thus an in-depth discussion on the modernisation of the Global South is urgently needed, not only in response to the call of developing countries for peace, development and progress, but also to meet the aspirations of the people of all countries for modernisation and human advancement.

The Global South is where the hope lies First, the Global South is where the hope lies today. The term “Global South” has first and foremost a “south” dimension. However, the “South” in the Global South is not a geographical term but a byword for emerging markets and developing countries.

It is an identity and representative of a community of countries with similar historical experiences, political pursuits and development goals.

The term also has a “global” dimension. It symbolises a prominent worldwide trend of the collective rise of developing countries, and reflects their strong wish for solidarity and self-reliance.

The countries of the Global South once suffered from aggression, colonisation, suppression and plunder.

It is through years of struggle and hard work, along with the evolving changes in this century, that the Global South has gradually become an important force driving the reforms in the world order and seeking political independence, national rejuvenation and international justice.

The Global South is a leading champion of a new type of globalisation.

Unilateralism, protectionism and populism are rearing their ugly heads today.

Attempts to build “small yards with high fences” to “decouple” from other economies, sever industry and supply chains and stoke bloc confrontation are rampant.

Globalisation has suffered major setbacks, and we have to make critical choices to avoid being pushed back and forced to sail upstream.

At this crucial moment, the countries of the Global South have chosen to confront difficulties head on. They have embraced globalisation in an unprecedented manner, and launched mechanisms to improve globalisation by enriching its content and extending its outreach, and endeavoured to make the rules of globalisation more reasonable and conditions more favourable.

In particular, countries of the Global South, upholding the principle of “planning together, building together, and benefiting together”, have pressed ahead the Belt and Road co-operation to a new stage of high-quality development, thus injecting new impetus into global growth, creating new opportunities for global development, and building a new platform for international co-operation.

Thanks to these efforts, a new type of globalisation that involves more diversified players and is more open, inclusive and beneficial for all is taking shape.

Globalisation has indeed been tinted with the Global South hues.

The Global South is the source of strength for global multi-polarity.

Since the end of the Cold War, the trend of global multi-polarity has evolved amid twists and turns.

Along with the unfolding of profound changes across the global economic and political landscape and the collective rise of developing countries, the Global South has got an important opportunity to play a greater role on the world stage.

According to statistics, the land area of the Global South countries accounts for more than 70 percent of the world’s total, and its combined population and contribution to global economic growth over the past 20 years account for 80 percent of the world’s total.

Hence, it is fair to say that the Global South has already become the most dynamic force promoting multi-polarity in terms of its size, vitality, growth potential and contribution. In fact, the collective rise of the Global South is reshaping the global political landscape.

The Global South is a key force promoting greater democracy in international relations.

Over the years, the voice of the Global South has been muted on the world stage and the reasonable concerns of developing countries have not been addressed.

The few traditional powers that have dominated the right to set the international agenda and rules have always put their own interests first.

Their hegemonic, domineering and bullying practices have disturbed the normal international order and undermined international justice and fairness.

Under the new circumstances, more and more Global South countries have realised the ideological and institutional yoke of imperialism and colonialism. — China Daily