China in South-South Cooperation: A Driving Force in Global Governance

BEIJING, Sept. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from China.org.cn on the South-South Cooperation Day:

As UN Secretary-General António Guterres put it, the world can't achieve the 2030 Agenda without the energy, ideas, and leadership of the (Global) South.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Tianjin Summit is a living testimony to this point. During the event, more than 20 heads of state along with ten heads of international organizations gathered to deepen friendship, explore cooperation and plan for development. Topics including "global governance" and "multilateralism" emerged as recurring themes.

China, as a natural member of the Global South and a founding member of the SCO, has innovatively introduced the "Global Governance Initiative" which aligns with multilateralism, amplifying the voice of the Global South. China also put forward solutions such as establishing the SCO Development Bank, while actively promoting multilateral cooperation by launching four security centers, setting up six cooperation platforms, rolling out six high-quality development action plans, etc. Undoubtedly, these concrete actions carry significance in bettering the ability of Global South countries to effectively engage in global governance.

China has consistently been a country of action in upholding sovereign equality, championing multilateralism, elevating the voice of Global South countries, and driving pragmatic cooperation. China's track records under various multilateral platforms like the UN, G20, APEC and BRICS all bear witness to that. At the G20 Hangzhou Summit in 2016, when serving as chair, China launched "the G20 Initiative on Supporting Industrialization in Africa and LDCs" along with others, the first of its kind; during the 2022 Bali Summit, China became the first country to openly support the African Union's accession to the G20. These ground-breaking "firsts" reflect China's determination and commitment to increase representation of the Global South and share the fruits of development more broadly. BRICS provides another example. In 2013, BRICS leaders agreed to establish the New Development Bank (NDB) at the fifth BRICS Summit, and the bank was officially opened in 2015; by 2024, the NDB has approved more than 120 projects, ranging from opening urban rail transit projects in India to supporting clean energy in Brazil and modernizing seaports in South Africa, among others. These efforts have empowered more Global South countries to engage in global governance while bringing tangible benefits to local communities.

China's determination and concrete actions in reforming and improving global governance, along with its many examples of mutually beneficial cooperation with fellow Global South countries, are the best illustration of "deeds speaking louder than words".

Amid today's world of turbulence and uncertainty, South-South Cooperation carries even greater significance. This year's United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation underscored the role of countries of the Global South in addressing common challenges such as health-related issues and climate change. Countries from the Global South should strengthen solidarity and step forward — otherwise, the widening global governance deficit will endanger all. Whether it be strengthening health systems or providing medical aid, or in advancing collective measures to tackle climate challenges, China's contributions are beyond dispute. The world has every reason to expect China to remain consistent in committing to South-South cooperation in the same spirit.

China, together with other Global South countries, is amplifying its voice and taking concrete action to steer global governance to a fairer and more inclusive future.

China Mosaic
http://www.china.org.cn/video/node_7230027.htm
China in South-South Cooperation: A Driving Force in Global Governance
http://www.china.org.cn/video/2025-09/12/content_118076052.shtml 

SOURCE China.org.cn