SONG CHEN/CHINA DAILY
Existing relations between many countries from the North and the South have been characterized by a lack of openness and inclusivity. Narratives such as clash of civilizations, end of history, the coming anarchy, the universalization of Western liberal democracy as the final form of human governance, and the divisive classification of societies as Orient and Occident, center and periphery, rich and poor, developed and underdeveloped, have all posed a threat to the quest for a just, open and inclusive multi-civilizational world.
The retrogressive politics of violence and divisiveness have been directed at countries of the Global South. The aim is to keep the Global South countries in a prolonged state of instability, where humiliation and exploitation of natural resources prevail.
Against this backdrop, the first Global South Media and Think Tank Forum, which was held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in November, reawakened the spirit of the historic Asian-African Conference, also known as the Bandung Conference, held 70 years ago. Organized by Xinhua News Agency and Brazil Communication Company, the forum was attended by around 350 representatives of 170 media outlets, think tanks, government agencies, enterprises and other institutions from over 70 countries and regions.
Themed "Development and Revitalization: A New Journey for the Global South", the forum happened at a time when the world is facing unprecedented challenges emanating from the changing international governance system perpetuated by politics of anti-globalization.
Knowing the injustices endured by the Global South countries for far too long, the forum served as a vital platform for fostering friendship, deepening cooperation and facilitating mutual learning, while amplifying the collective voice of the Global South.
The forum provided an opportunity for these nations to build consensus and promote a more balanced form of globalization.
The Global South countries are standing up against the politics of divisiveness and hegemonic tendencies among civilizations. The rise of multilateral platforms such as the BRICS, South-South cooperation, Group of 77, and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, among others, have restructured relations and embraced openness and inclusiveness in promoting development, governance and equality of civilizations.
Initiatives such as the Global Civilization Initiative, unveiled by China — a leading member of the Global South — have provided alternatives to the postcolonial forms of modernity imposed by the West to create the continuation of the old hegemonic world order, and reawakened the Bandung spirit where these countries united to oppose imperialism and colonialism, defend their sovereign rights and pursue a more equitable world.
The GCI advocates mutual respect between civilizations, equality, tolerance, coexistence, exchanges and mutual learning. These have allowed the Global South countries to promote respect for the diversity of civilizations by upholding the principles of equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness. All civilizations are equal, and none is greater than the other. They all require an opportunity to experience rapid and sustainable economic, social and cultural growth without any discrimination.
In addition, the GCI advocates the common values of humanity by genuinely committing to equal recognition of human values and making them explicit in all social systems and institutions. It also supports the importance of inheritance and innovation of civilizations by embracing technology and innovation as a way of life in the Global South. The rural vitalization process in China is a clear example of the importance of promoting innovation. This has enabled China to lift about 800 million people out of poverty.
To try to solve many problems of the present world at the root, the GCI advocates robust international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation by building a global network for inter-civilizational dialogue and cooperation to enhance friendly exchanges among civilizations.
Significantly, the GCI encompasses the spirit of Ubuntu philosophy: I am because you are. The pan-Africanist notion recognizes that all civilizations live in an interconnected society where inclusiveness and prosperity are paramount. African countries being key members of the Global South reject the notion of a superiority complex over other civilizations. The GCI promotes openness and inclusiveness where different civilizations will coexist, and support each other to enhance homegrown forms of modernization, and call for a new world order where peace and development prevail.
As stated by Chinese President Xi Jinping in his congratulatory message to the forum, pursuing modernization and working for a more just and equitable international order are the sacred historic missions of the Global South countries. The GCI truly reawakens the vision of shared prosperity among the Global South countries.
The author is the executive director of the China-Africa Center at the Africa Policy Institute in Nairobi, Kenya. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
