Ye Benqian and Fu Zhen: Chinese-path Modernization: A New Paradigm and New Opportunities for the Modernization of the "Global South"
Modernization is a developmental goal pursued assiduously by human society and is an unstoppable historical trend. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: "The collective rise of the 'Global South' [1] is a distinctive sign of the Great Changes Unseen in a Century [2]. The joint movement of 'Global South' countries toward modernization is a major event in world history and an unprecedented feat in the process of human civilization." As the world's largest developing country and an important member of the "Global South," China has successfully forged a modernization path that conforms to its own national conditions. With its unique choice of path, remarkable practical results, and broad international influence, Chinese-path modernization provides new path options and the power of a model for "Global South" countries moving toward modernization.
I. The Coexistence of Opportunities and Dilemmas in the Modernization of the "Global South"
"At present, the momentum of the Global South is growing remarkably, playing an increasingly important role in the cause of human progress." As a collective of emerging market economies and developing countries, the influence of Global South countries in the global economy has strengthened significantly, with their share of global GDP increasing from 24% to over 40%. At the same time, South-South cooperation is deepening daily. Cooperation among developing countries in trade, investment, and technical exchange is continuously strengthening, providing broad space for Global South countries to jointly address challenges, share experiences, and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results. Furthermore, the adjustment of the global economic landscape and the developmental trend of multilateralism have created favorable conditions for "Global South" countries to strive for more developmental rights and international discourse power [3], enabling them to advance the cause of modernization in a more fair and reasonable international environment.
However, most Southern countries still face complex and severe situations. From the perspective of economic structure, many countries have long relied on the export of primary products, possessing singular industrial structures and occupying a passive position in the global trade pattern. They face enormous risks brought by price fluctuations and the dilemma of deteriorating terms of trade. Simultaneously, industrial development lags behind, with a lack of core technologies and innovation capabilities; they are nearly absent from high-end manufacturing and emerging tech industries, resulting in their marginalization within the global industrial division of labor. Regarding infrastructure, transportation networks are incomplete, energy supplies are unstable, and communication facilities are backward. Social development also faces numerous hurdles: the distribution of educational resources is seriously unequal, making it difficult to cultivate talent suited for modernization; medical and health conditions are poor, and disease prevention and control systems are fragile; and the vast gap between rich and poor triggers social instability, with social stratification hindering the advancement of modernization.
II. The Demonstrative Effect of Chinese-path Modernization on the "Global South"
Chinese-path modernization provides a classic example for "Global South" countries to independently explore developmental paths suited to their own national conditions. "In governing a country and promoting its modernization, the Western institutional model is not the only path; countries can absolutely forge their own way." China has always adhered to the principle of independence and self-reliance, resolutely discarding the blind following of Western models. From the socialist transformation [4] in the early years of the People's Republic of China to the market-oriented reforms after Reform and Opening-up, and further to the high-quality development strategy centered on innovation-driven growth in the New Era, every step has been closely integrated with China’s unique historical and cultural heritage, social system framework, and its economic base. Relying on its own wisdom and strength, China has successfully navigated various complex and volatile international situations and internal challenges, achieving sustained economic and social stability and development. This journey clearly demonstrates that "Global South" countries can only thoroughly break free from over-dependence on external models and truly grasp the initiative of development by grounding themselves in their own realities, deeply mining their own advantages, and firmly exploring modernization paths that fit their national conditions.
Chinese-path modernization consistently places the interests of the people at the forefront, insisting that the fruits of development be shared by all the people. In the process of the battle against poverty [5], China invested enormous human, material, and financial resources. Through targeted identification and targeted assistance, it implemented a series of comprehensive measures—such as poverty alleviation through industry, relocation, education, and healthcare—ensuring that every impoverished household and individual could benefit precisely, successfully achieving the goal of lifting them out of poverty and toward prosperity. In the field of education, China is committed to promoting educational equity and quality development, strengthening support for education in impoverished areas, and replenishing teaching forces in remote regions through policies like the "Special Post Plan" [6], thereby cultivating a large number of high-quality talents tailored to the needs of modernization. In healthcare, China has constructed a medical security system covering both urban and rural areas, continuously expanding the scope of insurance reimbursement, increasing reimbursement ratios, and strengthening grassroots medical and health institutions to ensure the public has access to doctors. This people-centered development philosophy and practice model profoundly inspire Global South countries to focus on people's livelihoods and well-being during modernization, fully stimulating the enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity of the masses, making the people staunch supporters and active participants in modernization.
Chinese-path modernization adopts a gradual implementation strategy for reform and development, emphasizing the systematic, holistic, and synergetic nature of reform. Rural reform achieved the first breakthrough: after the success of the household contract responsibility system [7], it was orderly expanded to key reform areas such as urban state-owned enterprises and the financial system. Opening-up to the outside world began with Special Economic Zones and coastal open cities, gradually expanding to inland and border areas, forming a pattern of all-round opening-up. Each step was adapted to the level of domestic economic and social development and the capacity to withstand change, focusing on the coordination and orderly connection between various reform measures, thereby achieving a smooth transition and upgraded development of the economy and society. This gradualist development model provides valuable experience for "Global South" countries, especially those with relatively fragile political and social environments or weak economic foundations. By advancing modernization in stages and according to plan on the basis of maintaining social stability and considering national realities, they can effectively reduce reform risks and improve the success rate and sustainability of development.
Chinese-path modernization relies heavily on scientific and technological innovation to drive economic development, regarding talent cultivation as the key support for such innovation. Achievements in the scientific and technological fields are prominent: 5G communication technology patents are numerous and base station construction leads the world, giving rise to emerging industries like the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT); high-speed rail technology moved from introduction to independent innovation and finally to the exportation of standards, becoming a benchmark for high-end manufacturing; aerospace and aviation have achieved major breakthroughs in manned spaceflight and deep-space exploration, placing China in the world's front ranks; and results in the integrated innovation of new energy technologies have been fruitful, driving the global energy transition. Educational reform has deepened across the board, with basic education strengthening quality-oriented education and innovation enlightenment, while the "Double First-Class" initiative [8] in universities gathers top talent and scientific research resources to cultivate a large number of innovative, high-quality talents. "Science and technology are the primary productive forces, talent is the primary resource, and innovation is the primary driver." "Global South" countries should profoundly recognize the critical role of scientific and technological innovation and talent cultivation in the modernization process, increase investment in R&D, strengthen the cultivation and introduction of scientific and technological talent, and create a favorable environment for innovation, relying on tech-driven growth to achieve leapfrog development.
III. Practical Paths for Chinese-path Modernization to Assist "Global South" Modernization
The "Belt and Road" Initiative (BRI) constructs a solid supporting platform for the modernization of "Global South" countries, achieving brilliant results in the field of infrastructure construction. Leveraging advanced technology and rich experience, China actively participates in infrastructure projects such as roads, railways, ports, airports, and energy in "Global South" countries. The completion and opening of the China-Laos Railway has activated industries such as tourism, agriculture, and logistics along the line, effectively promoting the industrialization and urbanization process of Laos and becoming a model for regional interconnectivity. The steady progress of the China-Thailand Railway construction will strengthen Thailand's position as a transportation hub in Southeast Asia and enhance the radiation and influence of the Thai economy. Energy cooperation in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has effectively alleviated Pakistan's energy shortage, providing a stable energy guarantee for its industrial production and residential life. Through these infrastructure cooperation projects, China has helped Southern countries improve their "hardware" conditions, injecting strong impetus into their economic development while expanding international market space for Chinese enterprises, achieving mutual benefit and joint movement toward modernization.
Trade and investment cooperation between China and "Global South" countries continues to deepen and expand, providing key assistance for the industrial upgrading of Southern countries. Through direct investment, Chinese enterprises build production bases and conduct processing and manufacturing operations in Southern countries, transferring parts of industrial chains to them, creating a large number of jobs, and driving the synergetic development of local upstream and downstream industries. Simultaneously, the export of advanced technical equipment and manufactured industrial goods helps Southern countries improve their industrial equipment levels and production efficiency, promoting industrial technological upgrading. In trade cooperation, China actively expands imports from Southern countries, especially deep-processed products of agricultural and mineral primary goods, encouraging Southern countries to develop characteristic industries and manufacturing, and guiding them to extend industrial chains and increase added value. Through these measures, China achieves complementary advantages with Southern countries, promoting the adjustment of industrial structures and the transformation of economic development modes.
China actively carries out cooperation in technology transfer and capacity building, providing strong support for "Global South" countries to cultivate their capacity for independent development. "China strengthens the transfer and transformation of technology, helping developing countries improve their scientific and technological innovation capabilities and industrial vocational skills." In the field of agriculture, China transfers agricultural technology and management experience to African countries such as Tanzania, guiding the construction of irrigation systems, promoting high-quality seed planting technology, and assisting in the establishment of agricultural cooperatives to improve post-harvest processing and marketing capabilities, achieving increased grain production and the development of specialty agriculture. In the industrial field, the China-Belarus Industrial Park has introduced advanced manufacturing technology and management models, carrying out diverse technical training and talent cultivation projects to foster local professional talent, improve the level of corporate technical management, cultivate industrial clusters, and enhance Belarus's capacity for independent industrial development and international competitiveness. Through these projects, Southern countries gradually master advanced technologies and management methods, cultivating their own technical talent and industrial workforce, providing internal impetus and technical support for the realization of modernization.
"China is always a member of the 'Global South,' a reliable long-term partner for developing countries, and a man of action and a doer in supporting the cause of global development." In the grand narrative of global modernization, the deep exchange and cooperation between China and "Global South" countries across multiple fields and levels—jointly exploring developmental paths suited to different national conditions—will surely inject a continuous stream of vitality into the cause of Global South modernization, pushing the world toward a more fair, prosperous, and harmonious direction, and joining hands to build a beautiful future for a community with a shared future for humanity.