Experts stress role of China, other Global South nations in reshaping global governance

BEIJING, May 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report by chinadiplomacy.org.cn on the role of China and other Global South nations in reshaping global governance:

China's expanding partnerships with fellow members of the Global South are reshaping global governance and promoting a more equitable, inclusive and sustainable international system, experts said at a roundtable held during the 11th China and Globalization Forum in Beijing last Thursday.

The roundtable, held in partnership with the Doha Forum and focused on "Reshaping Frameworks for Global Governance: The Role of China and the Global South," explored how such partnerships could help stabilize and renew global governance frameworks.

According to experts, as global politics continue to shift, these collaborations are seen as increasingly important in tackling major challenges, including economic uncertainty, climate change and post-conflict recovery.

Khalid Emara, former assistant foreign minister of Egypt, highlighted the Global South's growing influence, citing the BRICS grouping, which represents nearly half of the world's population, approximately 30% of global GDP and 25% of global trade.

"African and Middle Eastern countries are core members, and its expansion is reshaping global governance," Emara said.

He called diplomacy a critical tool for building partnerships and pointed to two major China-led initiatives.

The first is the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, which facilitated more than $280 billion in annual trade between China and Africa since 2022. The forum has also contributed significantly to infrastructure development and the establishment of free trade arrangements within the African Union.

The second is the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, a partnership that resulted in over $400 billion in trade in 2024, with energy cooperation forming a vital pillar of the relationship.

According to Emara, these initiatives are examples of how the Global South is seeking to play a more active role in the international order.

Shaikha Al-Shaibi, head of partnership planning and evaluation at the Qatar Fund for Development (QFD), said China-Gulf partnerships could serve as a model for next-generation South-South cooperation.

She said China's expertise in infrastructure, innovation and technology complements the Gulf states' experience in humanitarian aid, financing and programming for sustainable development.

Al-Shaibi said people-centered development, inclusivity and diversity are essential to advancing these partnerships.

"With joint investments, shared learning and mutual commitments to outcomes, the Gulf-China relationship offers a promising model for future development cooperation," she said.

The 11th China and Globalization Forum, hosted by the Center for China and Globalization (CCG), opened in Beijing on May 22. The two-day event brought together more than 300 participants from over 60 countries for discussions on such issues as multilateralism, global governance, China-U.S. relations and the role of the Global South.

SOURCE chinadiplomacy.org.cn