1st Global South Economic Forum held in Abu Dhabi
The inaugural Global South Economic Forum was held on June 17 in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), bringing together senior officials, diplomats, scholars, and experts to discuss the most pressing issues facing the Global South and to promote a more equitable and inclusive global economic order.
Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, minister of state to the United Arab Emirates Cabinet, delivers a speech at the inaugural Global South Economic Forum in Abu Dhabi, June 17, 2025. [Photo/CICG]
Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, minister of state to the UAE Cabinet, noted in his speech that Global South countries are working to enhance their ability to shape the global economic agenda, aiming for equitable cooperation through pragmatic partnership to achieve shared development. He outlined four key areas for future cooperation, such as leveraging emerging technologies to drive sustainable development and promoting regional integration through infrastructure connectivity and investment facilitation. He also expressed the UAE's interest in enhancing cooperation with China to elevate the influence of Global South countries in global governance.
Yu Yunquan, vice president of China International Communications Group (CICG) and president of the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies, delivers remarks via video, June 17, 2025. [Photo/CICG]
Yu Yunquan, vice president of China International Communications Group (CICG) and president of the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies (ACCWS), delivered remarks via video. He stated that the collective rise of the Global South is a hallmark of the changing global landscape and called for stronger solidarity, deeper economic and trade cooperation, and enhanced cultural exchange among nations. He said CICG is committed to advancing dialogue among international think tanks, documenting the Global South's stories through multilingual communication, and promoting a fairer international order.
Zhang Yiming, Chinese Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, delivers remarks at the inaugural Global South Economic Forum in Abu Dhabi, June 17, 2025. [Photo/CICG]
Chinese Ambassador to the UAE Zhang Yiming reaffirmed China's position as a committed member of the Global South in his speech. He said China remains dedicated to strengthening economic ties with Global South countries and contributing insights and development opportunities through Chinese modernization. Zhang noted that China will continue leveraging multilateral platforms such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to promote high-quality South-South cooperation.
Participants speak at the inaugural Global South Economic Forum in Abu Dhabi, June 17, 2025. [Photo/CICG]
The forum featured a high-level panel discussion on South-South cooperation in a multipolar world. Speakers highlighted the structural advantages of Global South countries in terms of GDP and population, and called for enhanced economic cooperation and inclusive dialogue between the Global South and the Global North.
At the opening ceremony, ACCWS presented highlights from a report titled "An Evaluation of Governance in the Global South", jointly developed with the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance). The report aims to provide practical guidance for countries facing challenges in social governance and technological transformation while seeking to improve governance effectiveness.
Participants read multilingual publications by China International Communications Group (CICG) during the inaugural Global South Economic Forum in Abu Dhabi, June 17, 2025. [Photo/CICG]
ACCWS also introduced key multilingual publications on the sidelines of the forum, including "Keywords to Understand China", which were well received by participants as valuable resources for understanding China's policies and accessing authoritative information about the country.
Under the guidance of CICG, the forum was jointly organized by ACCWS, the Center of Geoeconomics for the Global South, the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy, and the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research. It was supported by the Institute for Cultural Development and Communication of the Communication University of China and the School of Journalism and Communication at Tsinghua University.