Wang Bo and Zhai Dayu: Empowering the Modernization of the Global South Through the Development of Chinese-path Modernization
Modernization is a shared task facing the nations of the Global South and represents the greatest common denominator [1] for converging the consensus and collective interests of these countries. For a long time, the international order dominated by Western countries has created numerous obstacles to the modernization of the Global South; in many instances, international rules and North-South relations have been unfavorable to their modernization processes. Hegemonism, economic sanctions, and "human rights" standards have become significant factors hindering the modernization of the Global South. Within the international political and economic landscape, a clear gap remains between the modernization processes of the vast number of developing countries and those of developed nations. Therefore, in the era of economic globalization, the modernization of the Global South is not only a matter of the development and stability of these countries themselves but is the key to achieving global common development and shared prosperity.
Currently, changes unseen in a century [2] are accelerating, and the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation. The modernization of the Global South faces unprecedented opportunities and challenges. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized: "Chinese-path modernization is the modernization of taking the path of peaceful development; it benefits the Chinese people while promoting the modernization of all countries in the world." With its unique developmental path, Chinese-path modernization presents a new vision distinct from Western modernization models, providing the world with a brand-new modernization paradigm. China continues to comprehensively deepen reform, expand opening-up, and achieve high-quality development. Its practices in poverty alleviation, infrastructure construction, development financing, and sustainable development have not only driven its own growth but have also provided immense opportunities for other countries—particularly those in the Global South—injecting new momentum into the modernization process of the Global South and demonstrating China’s responsibility and actions as a responsible major power.
In promoting the modernization process of the Global South, China focuses on advancing development cooperation through institutional design and policy coordination. China proposed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and actively advocates for and implements the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI), and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI). These provide important platforms for Global South countries to board the "express train" of China's development and achieve their own growth; they are of great significance for Global South countries in advancing modernization, maintaining regional peace and stability, and promoting mutual learning between civilizations. These initiatives reinforce one another, collectively forming an important policy framework for China to promote the modernization of the Global South. Through policy coordination and strategic collaboration, China actively participates in and promotes the reform of the global governance system. From being the first to explicitly support the African Union's entry into the G20, to promoting the bridging of the North-South "digital divide," and further to advancing the reform of the international financial architecture, China practices true multilateralism. It upholds the common interests of developing countries and contributes strength to improving the global governance system and increasing the representation and voice of Global South countries.
The Global South arose for the sake of development and flourishes because of development. As a collective of emerging market economies and developing countries, the Global South's share of the world economy has risen to over 40%. It is profoundly rewriting the map of the global economy and has become a key force in reshaping the global political and economic landscape and driving the transformation of the international order. As the largest developing country and a member of the Global South, China has consistently pushed to place development at the center of the international economic and trade agenda. China has provided development assistance to more than 160 countries and worked hand-in-hand with over 150 countries and 30 international organizations to co-build the "Belt and Road." Since the Global Development Initiative was proposed three years ago, it has mobilized nearly $20 billion in development funds and implemented more than 1,100 projects, bringing about a new model of sustainable development cooperation that better aligns with the interests and demands of the Global South. China has proposed and implemented a series of specific projects in key development cooperation areas of concern to Global South countries, such as poverty reduction, green development, industrialization, the digital economy, and connectivity. Building on this, China is establishing the "Global South" Research Center and supporting the G20 in carrying out pragmatic cooperation that benefits the "Global South," among other efforts. Furthermore, China actively promotes the construction of multilateral financial institutions such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the New Development Bank (NDB) to provide developing countries with more diversified, flexible, and targeted development financing channels. By consolidating and upgrading the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund into the "Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund," China supports developing countries in implementing the GDI and the Sustainable Development Agenda, providing strong support for the poverty reduction and sustainable development processes of Global South countries.
In today's world of national interdependence, humanity is an indivisible security community. Unlike Western countries, which have long followed the "law of the jungle" and the zero-sum mentality of "a strong country must seek hegemony" [3] during their modernization processes, Chinese-path modernization is the modernization of taking the path of peaceful development. In the process of advancing modernization, China consistently upholds its solemn commitment to never seek hegemony, expansion, or spheres of influence. China holds high the banner of peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit; while striving for its own development, it actively contributes strength to maintaining world peace and promoting common development. In particular, President Xi Jinping, standing on the height of the future and destiny of humanity, proposed the Global Security Initiative. This explicitly answers the "questions of the times" regarding "what kind of security concept the world needs and how countries can achieve common security," pointing out the direction and path for human society toward lasting peace and universal security, and contributing Chinese solutions and Chinese wisdom to the peaceful resolution of international and regional hotspot issues and the maintenance of world peace and security.
Modernization is not only development at the economic level but also includes development in social, political, cultural, and other dimensions. President Xi Jinping noted: "It is hoped that the vast number of developing countries can proceed from their own national conditions and, on the basis of drawing on the outstanding achievements of human civilization, explore new paths to achieve modernization." In terms of commonalities, modernization involves basic elements such as industrialization, urbanization, and marketization. However, as the vast number of Southern countries differ greatly in natural endowments, history, culture, and stages of development, their paths to modernization must necessarily be diverse. In promoting the modernization process of the Global South, China consistently maintains an attitude of equality, openness, and inclusiveness. It practices the Global Civilization Initiative, respects the diversity of development among Global South countries, emphasizes that every country has its unique developmental trajectory and cultural tradition, and supports Global South countries in basing themselves on their own realities to explore modernization paths suited to their national conditions. This model of cooperation, based on equality and respect, avoids imposing a single development model on others, promotes the diversified development of Global South modernization, and advances the construction of a "garden of world civilizations where beauties are shared" [4]. For example, under the framework of BRICS cooperation, China actively shares innovative technologies, promotes green development, and advances exchanges and cooperation in fields such as science, education, and culture; it hosts the China-Africa Civilization Dialogue and the China-Arab Civilization Dialogue Seminar to promote the inclusive coexistence of civilizations across different regions; and it has established the "Global South" Think Tank Cooperation Alliance to promote people-to-people exchanges and the mutual learning of governance experiences.
As a member of the Global South, China does not seek to be the "lone flower in bloom," but rather hopes for a "hundred flowers to blossom together" [5], walking hand-in-hand with the vast number of developing countries to achieve modernization. Based on its own rich practical experience, Chinese-path modernization provides strong support for Global South countries to achieve better development and for the smooth advancement of Global South modernization. Looking to the future, China will continue to learn from, help, and walk side-by-side with Global South countries, leveraging the unique advantages of Chinese-path modernization to continuously contribute wisdom and strength, inject powerful momentum, and jointly drive Global South modernization toward a higher level, making greater contributions to building a community with a shared future for humanity.
(Authors' Affiliation: School of International Development and Cooperation, University of International Business and Economics) Source: People's Daily (January 13, 2025, Page 09) Online Editor: Hui Hui