In his lecture at the Plenary session of the Second Global South Think Tanks Dialogue in Nanjing, east China’s Jiangsu Province
, on November 14th, Mohammed Saqib, Convenor of the Center for Geoeconomics for the Global South (COGGS), eloquently outlined the transformative potential of South-South Cooperation in advancing sustainable development and promoting global equity. He argued that the traditional North-South development paradigm is increasingly obsolete, and that South-South cooperation—defined by collaboration among developing nations—has emerged as a pivotal mechanism for achieving shared prosperity and addressing common challenges.
The second edition of the Think Tanks Dialogue brought together over 200 think tanks from the Global South, culminating in the formation of the Global South Think Tanks Alliance, a platform for exchanging ideas and advancing collective solutions among Global South nations.
In his address, Saqib emphasized the ongoing shift in global geopolitics, underscoring the rise of a multipolar world in which South-South cooperation plays a central role in shaping the future of global development.
He, representing COGGS, proposed five critical areas where the collective efforts of the Global South are urgently required:
I. Reforming the Global Financial System
Mohammed Saqib began by addressing a foundational issue: the global financial system, which was “established in a different era,” is no longer adequate for meeting the needs of today’s multipolar world. He called for urgent reform to make financial structures more inclusive and responsive to the needs of the Global South. As he puts it:
“The global financial system needs reform, as it was established in a different era.”
He highlighted initiatives like the New Development Bank (NDB), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and India’s RuPay card as positive steps forward in this direction. These institutions, which are spearheaded by countries from the Global South, represent an alternative to traditional Western-dominated financial bodies like the IMF and World Bank.
He argued that these efforts are important, but more must be done to “address the challenges faced by developing economies.” Specifically, he called for the creation of innovative financing mechanisms that rethink debt sustainability. This means developing more flexible financial instruments that can better serve the Global South’s needs without burdening countries with unsustainable debt.
“We should create innovative financing mechanisms that rethink debt sustainability and develop flexible instruments to serve the Global South better.”
Such reforms would empower developing nations to access capital on more favorable terms and with more autonomy, creating a financial ecosystem that is not bound by the legacy structures of the past. These reforms, according to him, are critical not only to address immediate financial challenges but also to enable long-term development and stability.
II. Digital Revolution for Development
Mohammed Saqib found immense potential in the ongoing digital revolution as a driver of development. He asserted that technology offers an opportunity for the Global South to “speed up development” and bypass traditional stages of industrialization. By skipping over certain phases of development, such as mass manufacturing or infrastructure-heavy projects, Global South nations can directly embrace new technologies, leapfrogging to more advanced systems.
“The digital revolution offers a great chance to speed up development and skip traditional stages.”
However, he stressed the importance of creating technology transfer platforms that respect intellectual property (IP) rights while also ensuring broad access to technological innovations.
He pointed to the BRICS nations as an example of how such cooperation can lead to inclusive growth. These countries, through collective initiatives, are demonstrating that the benefits of the digital revolution can be equitably distributed. Initiatives like the BRICS Network University, for instance, are providing educational and research opportunities that can accelerate technological development and knowledge sharing across member states.
III. Addressing Climate Change
The convenor of COGGS brought attention to one of the most pressing challenges facing the Global South: climate change. While developing countries contribute far less to global carbon emissions, they are disproportionately affected by its consequences, from rising sea levels to extreme weather events.
“The Global South faces the harshest impacts of climate change despite contributing the least to the problem.”
Here, South-South cooperation can play a crucial role in sharing climate-resilient technologies and solutions. Mohammed Saqib highlighted successful examples of such cooperation, including China’s success in the Kubuqi Desert and India’s International Solar Alliance (ISA). The Kubuqi Desert initiative, where China transformed a barren landscape into a green area using innovative technology, showcases the power of practical solutions to environmental challenges. Meanwhile, the ISA, which includes 124 countries, represents an extraordinary collaborative effort to scale solar energy across the Global South.
He further argued that initiatives for addressing climate issues, along with the sharing of climate-resilient technologies, can help developing countries adapt to the challenges posed by climate change while reducing their carbon footprints.
IV. Healthcare and Knowledge Sharing
While addressing at the dialogue, Mohammed Saqib stressed the importance of healthcare reform and the sharing of medical knowledge.The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the deep vulnerabilities in global healthcare systems, particularly in developing countries. However, it also demonstrated the power of unity and cooperation in addressing global crises.
“The COVID-19 crisis has not only exposed our vulnerabilities but also demonstrated the power of our unity in overcoming challenges.”
South-South cooperation in healthcare, he argued, is critical not only for pandemic response but also for long-term health resilience. By sharing medical technologies, research, and healthcare best practices, Global South nations can build stronger, more responsive health systems that are better equipped to handle future health emergencies. This would also help address the chronic health disparities that exist within and between countries in the Global South.
V. Reforming Global Governance Structures
While addressing the assembly of think-tankers from the Global South nations, Saqib underscored the need for reforming global governance structures to align with the contemporary economic and political realities of a multipolar world. The current international order, according to him, is outdated and fails to reflect the growing influence of the Global South. The existing power dynamics in institutions such as the UN, the IMF, and the World Bank disproportionately favor the Global North, leaving developing countries with limited influence.
“To effectively pursue these objectives, it is important to reform global governance structures so they align with today’s economic and political realities.”
This reform, he suggested, should aim for more equitable representation of the Global South in decision-making bodies. This would involve revising voting rights, increasing participation in key international institutions, and ensuring that the interests of developing countries are better represented in global policy discussions. Only through such reforms, he argued, can the Global South fully contribute to shaping the global order in a way that benefits all nations.
