On November 14th, the Second Global South Think Tanks Dialogue, themed on “Global South: Equality, Openness, and Cooperation”, opened in Nanjing. The event was co-hosted by the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee, and China Council for BRICS Think Tank Cooperation. Liu Jianchao, Minister of the IDCPC, and Xin Changxing, Secretary of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of Jiangsu Provincial People’s Congress, attended the Dialogue. Over 400 participants were present, including think tank scholars and representatives of political parties from more than 100 emerging markets and developing countries such as Brazil, Russia, India, South Africa, and Egypt, as well as representatives from relevant departments, universities, and think tanks of China.

Liu delivered a keynote speech. He said that profound changes unseen in a century is accelerating across the globe. The world has entered a new period of turbulence and change. In the face of the critical question of “where is humanity headed”, the Global South actively played its part, achieved the collective rise and made significant contributions to advancing human progress. As an important member of the Global South, the Chinese side is willing to work with other Global South countries to carry forward the spirit of the Global South featuring independence and autonomy, unity and mutual assistance, fairness and justice, and openness and inclusiveness, further deepen unity and cooperation, pursue together development and revitalization, safeguard world peace, promote the progress of civilizations, improve global governance through joint consultations, and build a community with a shared future for the Global South, so as to make our due contributions to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. Last month, at the “BRICS Plus” Dialogue in Kazan, Russia, President Xi Jinping proposed that China will coordinate with others to form a Global South Think Tanks Alliance to promote people-to-people exchanges and experience-sharing in governance. To implement the important initiative, the Global South Think Tanks Alliance was established at the dialogue. Think tanks of the Global South should leverage expertise in research, coordinate efforts to making proposals on state affairs and building consensus, deepen exchanges and cooperation, and contribute more wisdom to the collective efforts of the Global South.

Xin said, not long ago, President Xi Jinping made a three-point proposal at the “BRICS Plus” Dialogue, which not only responds to the Global South’s urgent need for peace, development and cooperation, but also demonstrates China’s firm determination of joining hands with the Global South for common development. Jiangsu province is on the eastern coast of China, and is in where the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road meet. It is advancing high-level opening-up and building a two-way open hub with global appeal. We are willing to work together with all parties to continuously implement the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI), and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) in an in-depth way. We will deepen practical cooperation in various fields such as sister cities exchanges, economic and trade investment, education and training, healthcare, and cultural exchange, strive to be a firm supporter and active participant of Global South cooperation, and contribute more to common prosperity, universal security, diversity, and harmony among all civilizations. We are also willing to support research, exchange, and cooperation among think tanks of the Global South within our capabilities, to jointly contribute more wisdom to global governance and prosperity.

Foreign guests at the dialogue highly praised the CPC's great achievements in leading the Chinese people in the modernization drive. They said President Xi Jinping's important speech at the "BRICS Plus" Dialogue highlighted China's attempt to lead the unity and cooperation of the Global South and injected stability into the turbulent global landscape. They expressed their willingness to work together with China to implement the three global initiatives and build a community with a shared future for mankind. Bimala Ghimire, Vice Chair of the National Assembly of Nepal, said that Global South countries have become an awakening new force and a new hope for change in today's world, and should adhere to equality, openness, and cooperation to gather the wisdom and strength of the Global South. Patrick Herminie, Chairman of the United Seychelles Party and former speaker of the National Assembly of Seychelles, said Global South cooperation helps countries with different cultural backgrounds strengthen communication and dialogue, enhance mutual understanding, safeguard common interests, and promote world peace and stable development. Hurtado Perez, President of the Nico Lopez University of Cuba, said President Xi Jinping's concept of a community with a shared future for mankind provides important guidance for addressing global challenges, with China being a proactive force in promoting Global South solidarity and cooperation. The Global South countries should practice true multilateralism and strive to build a more just, equitable, open and inclusive international order, so as to achieve peace, security, and common prosperity.

Chinese and foreign representatives present also had in-depth discussions on topics such as "maintaining peace and security and jointly responding to challenges", "upholding open development and increasing the synergy for development", "advocating fairness and justice and improving global governance", as well as "deepening mutual learning among civilizations and promoting common progress".

Chen Zhou, Vice-minister of the IDCPC and President of China Council for BRICS Think Tank Cooperation, presided over the opening ceremony. Han Liming, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee and Secretary of the CPC Nanjing Municipal Committee, Chu Yonghong, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee and Secretary-General of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee, Hui Jianlin, Deputy Secretary of the Leading Party Members’ Group of Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and Vice Chairman of the CPPCC Jiangsu Provincial Committee, Zhao Zhimin, Secretary General of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), Fan Yun, deputy editor-in-chief of CMG and editor-in-chief of China Global Television Network (CGTN), Qiu Xin, Party Secretary of Fudan University, Zhang Donggang, Party Secretary of Renmin University of China, Zhao Baige, Vice Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC) and others, were present.

During the dialogue, the IDCPC, together with CASS, CMG, Tsinghua University, Fudan University, and Renmin University of China, jointly initiated the Global South Think Tanks Alliance with more than 200 domestic and international think tanks and universities, and held a launching ceremony.