How China can step up to its responsibilities in a rising Global South
- Rise of the Global South brings opportunities for South-South cooperation but also risks of infighting and confrontation
- China must boost dialogue and cooperation through think tanks and forums, working in particular on ties with India and Brics’ influence, and also North-South cooperation
“The Global South is becoming more visible – and influential – in every arena,” said Foreign Policy magazine at the start of the year.
While the Voice of Global South Summit, a virtual meeting hosted by India earlier this year, was attended by more than 100 countries, there is no universally accepted definition of which countries exactly comprise the Global South. There are, for instance, Global South countries in the geographic North, and vice versa.
Russia’s diplomatic focus, meanwhile, has been on former Soviet states, the Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa. Their reliance on energy, food, chemical fertilisers and other commodities from Russia makes decoupling difficult. Through engagement, Russia has strengthened its position and cooperation with the Global South.
With the rise of the Global South comes opportunities to deepen South-South cooperation. But any hasty moves can bring risks, intensify North-South tensions and exacerbate confrontations worldwide. China, seen as a pivotal country in the Global South as far back as in 2004, should take on its due responsibilities.
First, it should encourage and support Global South think tanks and institutions and jointly conduct research with other Global South countries to examine issues such as exchange mechanisms. Western countries have already established several Global South think tanks and research centres.
To guard against exclusion, China should embrace developing countries, keep close ties with its partners and work to enhance the cohesion of the Global South.
Can Brics, the emerging world’s torch-bearer, challenge the established order?
China should invite high-level officials and experts from industry and academia to hold more diverse Global South forums. Regularly held, these can facilitate standards for South-South cooperation and establish inclusive and equitable rules for cooperation in areas such as the digital economy, climate change and sustainable development.
Finally, China should work on stronger, better coordinated North-South cooperation. For many, China epitomises the rising Global South. China’s economic and technological cooperation with many countries in the Global South is also greater than that of developed countries.
Given China’s experience in cooperating with developed countries, its role as a go-between might be more appealing to the Global North. In this sense, China should consider enhancing North-South exchanges and cooperation, while avoiding an escalation of tensions.
As a country with both developing and developed elements, China could marry the interests of both communities to promote a more sustainable global development and better global governance.
Wang Huiyao is president of the Centre for China and Globalisation, a Beijing-based non-governmental think tank