Amplifying voice

He mentioned the 17th BRICS Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in July, 2025 set an example in amplifying the voice of the Global South in building a fairer global order.

Under the theme "Strengthening Global South Cooperation for a More Inclusive and Sustainable Global Governance", leaders attending the summit reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation under the political-security, economic-financial and cultural pillars, and addressed key issues, including global health, development financing, climate change and energy, as well as the governance of artificial intelligence.

Its declaration underscored the importance of reforming global governance so that it is more representative and equitable, reflecting the priorities of emerging and developing countries, Muchie said.

Zamir Ahmed Awan, founding chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance, a think tank in Pakistan, said that cooperation within the Global South is fostering innovation and strengthening self-reliance. In areas ranging from renewable energy and healthcare to education, Global South countries are not only addressing shared challenges through the exchange of knowledge and resources, but also seeking to reshape global governance through cooperation rather than competition.

Similarly, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Tianjin, held from Aug 31 to Sept 1, was widely seen as highlighting the Global South's commitment to unity and multilateralism.

At the summit, leaders jointly signed and released the Tianjin Declaration, approved the SCO's strategic development plan for the next decade, issued statements marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in World War II and the founding of the United Nations, and adopted a series of outcome documents on strengthening security, economic and people-to-people cooperation, setting the direction for the SCO's future development, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China.

"The world is witnessing the emergence of a hybrid global architecture, in which established institutions and newly formed mechanisms coexist. China is poised to play an important role both within the legacy institutions of the post-World War II order and in the new platforms emerging across the Global South," said Dawisson Belem Lopes, a professor of International and Comparative Politics at the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil.

He said that China can be described as "a systemic engine for a harmonious world", reflecting its comprehensive approach to both domestic and global challenges. Initiatives such as the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative, alongside the Belt and Road Initiative, demonstrate a foreign policy that spans economic, cultural, political, social and financial dimensions.