Story by Jonathan Marerwa in Beijing, China
The Global South Think Tank Forum has reached a broad consensus to enhance development co-operation, promote fairness and justice and build a prosperous world with a shared future.
Forty-four Think Tanks from Global South countries met in Beijing this Wednesday and came up with an initiative document during a forum jointly hosted by the International Department of the Communist Party of China, CPC, Central Committee and the China Media Group.
The theme of the forum was Peace, Development, Security: Jointly Build a Prosperous World with a shared future.
In a televised speech, Liu Jianchao, the Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, pointed out that the Global South has become a driving force for a new type of globalisation that is universally beneficial and inclusive.
He added that the Global South has offered a strong underpinning for an equal and orderly multipolar world which has become a staunch force for greater democracy in international relations.
Minister Liu said China will stand united with other Global South countries as always to shoulder the responsibility and play a role.
The President of the China Media Group, Shen Haixiong, noted that the Global South is on the rise and is becoming a major force for change in shaping the new order of global governance.
Poland’s former Deputy Prime Minister, Grzegorz W. Kolodko said the Global South initiative is a concept born from countries that seek mutual understanding and respect and wish to develop together with the developed countries on an equitable term and planning field.
Also speaking during the forum, the Vice-President of the Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute, Anna Rosario Malindog-Uy noted that the beauty of the Global South Grouping is its diversity adding that there are lots of opportunities in diversity.
She said for many of the Global South countries, colonialism is a shared experience in their history and also that they want to remain independent in their policies while seeking chances to move their countries forward.
Ms Malindog-Uy added that the world is facing conflicts, global warming, threats of poverty, food and energy insecurities and uniting the developing countries could pave a safer and smoother to achieving common development.
The Global South refers to countries located primarily in the Southern Hemisphere and make up 85 percent of the world population.
Most of these countries are from Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East and Asia (excluding Japan, South Korea and Singapore) and the Ocenia (excluding Australia and New Zealand).
These countries are developing or emerging economies and have historical experiences of colonisation and imperialism.
