On Nov. 21, the Global South Modernization Forum, themed “Working Together to Advance Modernization: A Shared Vision and the Path to Development,” was held in Beijing. Scholars engaged in in-depth discussions and productive exchanges on topics such as the definition, essence, and characteristics of modernization, the valuable insights Chinese modernization offers for countries of the Global South, the cultural awakening unfolding across the Global South, the relationship between tradition and modernity, and the preservation of cultural heritage in modernization processes.

Collective rise of Global South

At a time when global economic recovery remains sluggish and uneven, the remarkable contributions of Global South countries have drawn widespread attention. Their collective rise has become a prominent phenomenon in today’s global landscape. Statistics show that these countries now account for 40% of the world economy and more than 80% of the global population. Accordingly, the questions of which modernization path Global South nations should pursue—and how they should pursue it—emerged as central topics at the forum.

North-South relations have long stood as a core issue in the field of international political economy. Andrei Chevelev, former head of the Asia-Pacific Unit within UNESCO’s Sector for Priority Africa and External Relations, noted that many Global South countries were historically excluded from the international economic and political systems. Once associated with poverty and backwardness, the Global South is now writing a new chapter in human progress.

Justin Yifu Lin, a Boya chair professor and honorary dean of the Institute of South-South Cooperation and Development at Peking University, remarked that from a global perspective, the practice of Chinese modernization offers powerful insights for Global South countries: These nations fully possess the capacity to achieve modernization through their own efforts and to stand as equals alongside the Global North.

In Lin’s view, Chinese modernization comprises a model that embodies both universal and distinctive characteristics, differing fundamentally from Western models. It follows the comparative advantages of each region while harnessing the synergy between an effective market and a well-functioning government, and, through technological innovation, industrial upgrading, and the development of new quality productive forces adapted to local conditions, transforms comparative advantages into competitive ones, driving sustained growth and structural optimization.

From the standpoint of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), Pablo Vommaro, executive director of the Latin American Council of Social Sciences, argued that modernization must be grounded in justice, equity, public participation, and multilateralism. Today’s world is fraught with uncertainty and inequality, and the modernization of Global South countries continues to confront multiple challenges. Amid the global restructuring of geopolitical order, the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) proposed by President Xi Jinping offers a crucial opportunity for advancing Global South modernization. Its principles, foundations, and vision respond effectively to the LAC region’s practical concerns. As the world faces overlapping environmental, cultural, and economic crises, the GGI’s core principles provide a constructive roadmap.

Zhang Zhiqiang, director of the Institute of Philosophy at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, elaborated on the aims and essence of modernization. He argued that its ultimate goal is to achieve well-rounded human development, which lies at the heart of modernization. Philosophically, he emphasized, Chinese modernization resolves the contradiction between the general and the particular, and between the universal and the specific, by grounding the general laws of modernization in the concrete historical circumstances of each country.

Emerging from China’s own civilizational foundations, this approach reveals a concrete form of modernization, creating a new form of human advancement that reflects this distinctive characteristic, Zhang continued. Moreover, modernization of a huge population, one of Chinese modernization’s five key features, signifies a form of modernization that can be shared and experienced by humanity as a whole.

“Modernization should not be evaluated solely by quantitative metrics on paper,” Zhang added, “but should be judged by the wellbeing and prosperity of the people.”

Tradition, modernity in dialogue

In the ongoing process of modernization, the relationship between tradition and modernity is not one of binary opposition or mutual exclusion, but rather one shaped by continual overlap and mutual influence. Ancient civilizational traditions continue to provide driving forces for modernization, while modernization, in turn, breathes new vitality into tradition.

Drawing on experiences from LAC, Vommaro emphasized that tradition belongs not only to the past but also forms the foundation of future memory. He called for a critical and transformative approach to tradition and modernity, urging Global South countries to work together in fostering a new form of civilization—one characterized by diversity, inclusivity, and solidarity. Such a civilization, he argued, should be defined by mutual enrichment rather than competition, a conclusion drawn from the region’s long history of struggle.

Marine Jibladze, a professor and director of the Confucius Institute at the Free University of Tbilisi in Georgia and president of the Association of Georgian Sinologists, offered her perspective on the interplay between traditional Chinese culture and contemporary diplomacy. She explained that Chinese diplomatic discourse often draws on classical philosophy, idioms, and proverbs—such as “the people are the foundation of the state,” “great unity under heaven,” and “harmony is precious.” Traditions that emphasize reciprocity, honor commitments, and respect others, she said, continue to influence China’s global engagement in profound ways and offer valuable insights for the modernization of the Global South.