Global South countries have been overcoming the confinement of the Western world by seeking a path for modernization based on win-win cooperation, and China has taken a leading role and made great contributions in this process, said participants at a high-level meeting on governance in developing countries on Friday.
Theming on "Joining Hands to Advance the Modernization of the Global South", the Fifth Think Tank Forum on National Governance in Developing Countries was held in Beijing on Friday, with over 200 guests from more than 20 countries and international organizations around the world attended.
Chinese and foreign guests believe that modernization does not mean Westernization, and China's experience in modernization development is worth learning from for countries in the Global South.
In his video speech, former president of Guyana Donald Rabindranauth Ramotar highlighted that over the past 50 years, around 150 trillion U.S. dollars of wealth has flowed from the Global South to the Global North. He attributed this worrying trend to the Western trade model of selling high and buying cheap, but underscored that China has taken a wholly different approach to addressing global issues and common development.
Erik Solheim, former UN Under-Secretary General, praised China's contribution in driving the development for Global South countries, especially in the new energy sector, citing China's booming photovoltaic industry that has caused the once-high price of photovoltaic products to drop by 90 percent.
"Absolutely, I think the Global South will be dominant in the 21st century. They should stop saying everything as win-lose. Every developing country on planet Earth wants to be close partners and friends with China, as well as with the West. If some Western countries have some complaints with the Chinese support for developing world, please do better," he said.
Michele Geraci, former undersecretary of state of the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, said he has always advocated cooperation between Europe and China on the Belt and Road Initiative and hopes European politicians can learn to appreciate the concept of mutual benefit.
"I want Africa to be prosperous. It's not a threat for me. I know that a prosperous and stable Africa is the only way to solve, for example, the migrant crisis that we have in Europe," he said.
Chinese attendees said China never interferes in the development of other countries, but its own development model sets an example for developing countries.
"Chinese-style modernization is a path of modernization independently pioneered by China and tailored for China. We do not export the Chinese model, but China's exploration of the path of modernization has broadened the path for the global South to move toward modernization, opened up a path for them to break away from their dependence on the Western path of modernization, and provided a Chinese experience," said Chen Shuguang, director of the research department of Party School of Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.
Global South's rapid emergence to boost win-win partnership model: forum guests
