As debates intensify over the direction of the global order, experts across the Global South have pointed to China’s rise as a key factor in redefining patterns of development and international cooperation.

The experts said China’s domestic transformation and its expanding engagement with developing countries are increasingly influencing discussions on alternative pathways to growth and global governance reform.

Donald Ramotar, former president of Guyana, said China’s development path was shaped by its ability to adapt its policies to changing international conditions while maintaining a focus on national priorities. “They had a very intense discussion on appreciating their position in the world and the balance of forces that existed,” Ramotar said, noting that China was able to “open up their country and develop a new model” for advancing its development goals.

He said China’s approach to foreign policy has been characterized by an emphasis on cooperation and mutual benefit, particularly in its engagement with countries facing development constraints.

“This advanced position of a win-win foreign policy has helped them link with many countries,” he said, adding that development partnerships had enabled some nations to expand productive capacity and strengthen trade links.

Ramotar also highlighted China’s participation in multilateral initiatives such as the expansion of the BRICS grouping and connectivity programs under the Belt and Road Initiative, which he said reflect a broader recognition of the relationship between economic progress and global stability. “Peace and economic development are directly connected,” he said.

He said China’s engagement with developing countries has been shaped by a belief that shared economic growth can contribute to long-term stability and expanded trade opportunities. “They believed that if they help other countries to develop and trade with them, both sides will advance,” Ramotar said.

Siphamandla Zondi, a professor of politics and international relations at the University of Johannesburg, said China’s global outlook has been influenced by its historical continuity as a civilizational state, which he said allows for long-term policy planning and a distinct perspective on international engagement.

“The Chinese are able to draw from a pretty intact history … and are able to plan on the basis of the next 300 years,” he said, contrasting this with the legacy of colonial disruption experienced in many African societies.

Zondi said China’s emphasis on dialogue among civilizations and collective self-reliance has shaped its approach to cooperation with developing countries. “They think about cooperation, coexistence and solidarity as a way of life,” he said, adding that development remains a central organizing principle in China’s understanding of power and international influence.

Emphasis on dialogue

Noting that China’s rise is often framed by Western analysts in traditional geopolitical terms, he said Beijing’s strategy is more focused on positioning itself as an enabler of global production networks rather than as a dominant controller.

Zondi said China’s historical continuity has enabled it to approach global affairs with a long-term civilizational perspective rather than a purely nation-state outlook. He said China’s global engagement has been shaped by an emphasis on dialogue among cultures as a means of managing competition and resolving shared challenges.

“They see the possibility for dialogue among civilizations as a way to resolve competition and challenges,” Zondi said.

“The Chinese rise is not about rising to domination but rising to the center as an enabler,” he said.

Helga Zepp-LaRouche, founder and leader of the Schiller Institute, said China’s proposals on global governance represent an alternative framework for international community, aiming to establish a more inclusive international framework grounded in equality and respect for sovereignty.

“It must not be always one winner and one loser; you can have win-win cooperation where everybody wins,” she said, arguing that development-driven partnerships are increasingly appealing to countries seeking to address infrastructure gaps and poverty.

She also linked China’s economic transformation to sustained investment in education, technological innovation and cultural development, which she described as important drivers of productivity and long-term growth.

Zepp-LaRouche said China’s policy direction reflects long-term development planning that extends beyond immediate geopolitical competition, adding that China’s development trajectory has been reinforced by strong public confidence in long-term national planning and economic progress.

“I have come to the conclusion that the Chinese people are not only content with their government, but they are extremely optimistic,” she said, adding that many expect future generations to achieve higher living standards.

The experts said that as the world moves toward a more diversified distribution of economic and political influence, countries will increasingly seek practical development partnerships and new platforms for cooperation. They said China’s experience and policy approach will remain a significant reference point in debates on how to navigate the transition.

sharon@chinadailyafrica.com