Johannesburg is hosting the 2025 G20 Leaders’ Summit from November 22 to 23—the first time the forum meets in Africa. This shift spotlights emerging economies and developing nations moving from the sidelines into global decision-making.
In the opening session on November 22, the Chinese premier, Li Qiang, quoted President Xi Jinping's maxim: "Solidarity is strength, but division leads nowhere." Against a backdrop of geopolitical tension, fragile trade flows, and widening development gaps, he urged G20 members to amplify developing countries’ voices and build a fairer, more open global economic order.
Elevating the Global South
For China, hosting the G20 summit in Africa underscores why strengthening the Global South’s voice matters. "No matter how the international landscape evolves, we in China will always keep the Global South in our heart and maintain our roots in the Global South," President Xi has pledged.
Since 2022, China has advocated for expanding membership and representation of developing nations across multilateral platforms. At the 2022 G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, China backed the African Union’s inclusion in the G20, transforming Africa from a peripheral observer to a permanent seat at the table.
Beyond the G20, China has expanded BRICS to broaden cooperation, promoted the Shanghai Cooperation Organization across Eurasia, and helped establish the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) with over 30 partners—diversifying global mediation beyond traditional Western frameworks.
China has also launched cooperation frameworks with regions worldwide: ten partnership actions with Africa, major projects in Latin America, cooperation agreements with Arab states, and platforms for Pacific Island nations—each aimed at boosting developing countries’ capacity and influence in global affairs.
Building an open world economy
Amid rising protectionism and unilateralism, President Xi emphasizes that true multilateralism and open markets are the way forward. China pursues opening up as a core state policy and has taken tangible steps to promote global free trade:
- By January 2025, China had signed 23 free trade agreements with 30 countries and regions.
- Regionally, it has deepened economic integration through an upgraded ASEAN deal and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
- Applications to join the CPTPP and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement signal a push towards higher-standard, interconnected markets.
Infrastructure and investment also anchor China’s vision of openness. The Belt and Road Initiative, alongside the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the New Development Bank, funds cross-border links that many developing nations view as vital gateways to growth and trade.
As the G20 summit unfolds today in Johannesburg, the call for solidarity and inclusive growth is clear: building bridges—economic and diplomatic—may be the key to a fairer global order.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
