Shanghai, December 4th—The Third Global South Think Tanks Dialogue was held here today. The event was jointly organized by the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee, and the Global South Think Tanks Alliance. The theme of the dialogue was "Seeking Strength Through Unity: Responsibility and Action of the Global South". Chen Jining, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee, and Liu Haixing, Minister of the IDCPC, attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. About 350 people attended the event, including Mutale Nalumango, Vice President of the United Party for National Development and Vice President of Zambia, Bhokin Bhalakula, former President of the National Assembly of Thailand and President of Thai-Chinese Culture and Economy Association, Erik Solheim, Co-Chair of the Europe-Asia Center and former UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme, as well as representatives from about 120 countries, including political party leaders, think tank scholars, and representatives from relevant Chinese departments, universities and think tanks. 

Chen said, in October last year, President Xi Jinping proposed three propositions at the “BRICS Plus” Dialogue on gathering the strength of the Global South and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. As China's economic center and a vanguard of reform and opening up, Shanghai has been a witness, participant and promoter of cooperation among the Global South. We are deeply committed to implementing the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping, and continuously deepen exchanges and cooperation with the Global South, actively contributing to the Global South’s pursuit of modernization. Currently, Shanghai is formulating its economic and social development plan for the next five years in accordance with the strategic deployment of the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. Shanghai will adhere to high-quality development, put people first, expand high-level opening up, deepen the building of the "Five Centers" development strategy, namely establishing itself as an international economic center, international financial center, international trade center, international shipping center and international scientific and technological innovation center and a people-oriented city, and strive to play a leading and exemplary role in promoting Chinese modernization. Modernization is the common dream of the Global South, and the ultimate goal of modernization is the free and all-round development of human beings. Different civilizations can fully embrace and complement each other through equal treatment and mutual learning. We are willing to better give play to the role of localities and work with Global South countries to support each other in economic cooperation, enhance mutual understanding and friendship in people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and achieve modernization together by bringing out the best in one another. 

Liu said, currently, the collective rise of the Global South has become a distinct symbol of the profound changes in the world. As a natural member of the Global South, China has always been a firm advocate, supporter and promoter of the Global South to seek strength through unity. China is willing to work with countries of the Global South to jointly implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative, to achieve common prosperity, safeguard lasting peace, maintain diversity and harmony, and promote global governance. Not long ago, the fourth plenary session of the CPC 20th Central Committee was successfully held, and adopted the Recommendations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development, once again outlining a bright picture of China's win-win cooperation with the world. Think tanks are an important driving force for the Global South to seek strength through unity. Under the banner of the Global South Think Tanks Alliance, we should be advisors for the common development of the Global South, bridge-builders for mutual understanding, and promoters of practical cooperation, contributing more Global South solutions to maintaining world peace and development, and gathering more Global South consensus for promoting human civilization and progress. 

Foreign guests attending the event said, the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee has drawn up a blueprint for Chinese modernization in the next five years, providing useful inspiration and cooperation opportunities for the modernization process of the Global South. The world is undergoing rapid changes today, and the Global South countries need to seek strength through unity more than ever before to jointly address global challenges and safeguard common interests. The four major global initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping provide an important platform for South-South cooperation in the new situation. They are willing to work with China to promote implementation of the initiatives, jointly advance common modernization and the reform of the global governance system, and create a peaceful, secure, prosperous and sustainable future. Think tanks of the Global South should actively engage in dialogue and exchanges for this purpose, build consensus on ideas, and contribute wisdom and strength. 

Representatives from China and abroad also engaged in in-depth discussions on topics such as deepening mutual learning and exploration of modernization paths; upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground and reforming and improving global governance; promoting common development and deepening South-South cooperation; and advocating mutual benefit and win-win outcomes and strengthening North-South dialogue. 

Chen Zhou, Vice-minister of the IDCPC, presided over the opening ceremony. Hua Yuan, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee and Secretary-General of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee, Jin Li, President of Fudan University, and Jin Xin, Assistant-minister of the IDCPC, attended the dialogue. 

During the dialogue, a book exhibition was also held with themes such as "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" and the "fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee ".