From the bustling city of Kunming in southwest China to the diplomatic halls of Tianjin, the past week has seen a remarkable surge in efforts by the Global South to reshape the world’s political and economic landscape. As leaders, media professionals, and scholars converge for summits and forums, a clear message emerges: developing nations are determined to amplify their voices, deepen cooperation, and chart a more equitable path for global governance.
The Global South Media and Think Tank Forum 2025, which opened on September 5 in Kunming, is at the heart of these efforts. According to Xinhua, the five-day event has drawn about 500 representatives from more than 260 institutions across 110 countries, along with international and regional organizations. The forum’s theme, “Empowering Global South, Navigating Global Changes,” underscores the urgency felt by many developing countries as they seek to redefine their roles in a rapidly changing world.
This year’s gathering is the second of its kind, following the inaugural event in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in November 2024. That first forum issued the Sao Paulo Declaration, calling on media and think tanks in the Global South to “resolutely advocate for the group’s common interests and continuously boost its voice and influence in global affairs.” The momentum from that declaration is palpable in Kunming, where participants are focused on building consensus around peace, development, and cooperation, as well as fostering dialogue among civilizations.
Leonardo Attuch, editor-in-chief of Brazil 247 and a returning participant, put it succinctly: “In just one year, we have already seen deeper and more structured dialogues among Global South media, further amplifying the voices of Global South countries and transforming the traditionally Western media-dominated hegemonic narrative.” Attuch’s words reflect a growing confidence among Global South nations, who now account for over 40 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP) and contribute as much as 80 percent of global growth, according to Bernama-Xinhua reports.
China’s role as both host and active participant has been especially prominent. From major infrastructure projects—roads, bridges, harbors—to “small and beautiful” livelihood initiatives like Luban Workshops and hybrid rice cultivation, China has emerged as a reliable partner for development across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Pacific. Nassar Abdulkareem Nassar, deputy director of media affairs at the Iraqi News Agency, highlighted this dynamic, stating, “In Iraq, China’s support has enabled numerous landmark projects and livelihood programmes.” Nassar added that practical cooperation with China has provided a continuous impetus for development throughout the Global South.
The Kunming forum is not just about dialogue; it’s about concrete action. Two signature documents are set to be released: the Yunnan Consensus—a joint pledge to expand cooperative production of news and analysis—and a research report on China’s contribution to global public intellectual products, distilling best practices from the country’s South-South initiatives. Perhaps most notably, the event marks the formal launch of the Global South Joint Communication Partnership Network, which brings together more than 1,000 media outlets, think tanks, and institutions from 95 countries and regions. This network aims to foster collaboration, share resources, and amplify the collective voice of the Global South in the global discourse.
As the world undergoes what many describe as “profound changes unseen in a century,” the collective rise of the Global South is becoming a defining feature of this transformation. Media and think tanks from these countries are not only chronicling the times but are also shaping the image and narrative of the Global South, advocating for a more just and equitable international order. Fabio Manzini Camargo, special assistant to the Brazilian Minister of Health, told Xinhua, “This forum helps strengthen collaboration among media and think tanks in the Global South, enabling audiences to understand the reality of contemporary society from the perspective of the Global South.”
The push for a multipolar world is not confined to Kunming. Just days earlier, Tianjin hosted the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit from August 31 to September 1, 2025. According to reports, leaders from over 20 countries and representatives of 10 international organizations gathered to sign 15 new cooperation documents. These agreements span vital sectors like energy, finance, and technology, reflecting a shared ambition to “balance the global distribution of influence and pave the way for a more just and secure world order,” as Vice President of the BRICS International Forum Sukrit Sharan commented.
Sharan emphasized that the summit’s outcomes contribute to the emergence of a multipolar world and highlight the growing importance of the Global South. He also pointed to the successful meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the summit, noting, “India remains a true friend of Russia under all circumstances. This meeting of strategic partners was extremely successful. India has been actively supporting Russia in recent years, especially in difficult times.”
These high-level diplomatic engagements and the signing of new cooperation documents underscore a broader trend: the Global South is no longer content to be a passive observer in world affairs. Instead, it is actively seeking to “break the Western-dominated global public opinion pattern and establish their own subjectivity and power of discourse,” as Fidel Alejandro Gomez Vega, vice-president of Cuba’s Prensa Latina News Agency, remarked. The international community is increasingly recognizing that “without listening to the demands of the majority of humanity, world peace cannot be maintained, let alone achieving sustainable development for all humankind.”
The challenges ahead are significant. Dzhoni Melikyan, head of the International Relations Research Department under the Armenian Prime Minister’s office, stressed the importance of Global South media and think tanks becoming “the voice and conscience of diverse societies.” He advocated for in-depth analysis, constructive narratives, and a balanced global discourse system, especially against the backdrop of escalating geopolitical conflicts. Ahmad Ismayilov, executive director of the Media Development Agency of Azerbaijan, echoed these sentiments, urging Global South media to invest in digital transformation, embrace artificial intelligence tools, and establish intercontinental alliances to further amplify their voice.
As the Kunming forum continues and the echoes of the Tianjin summit linger, it’s clear that the Global South is stepping onto the world stage with renewed vigor and purpose. Through dialogue, cooperation, and strategic alliances, these nations are not only demanding a seat at the table—they are helping set the agenda for a more inclusive and balanced global order.