Interview: Global Governance Initiative affirms voice of Global South, says think tank executive director

by Xinhua writers Shi Song, Wang Qibing and Ma Ruxuan

GENEVA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The China-proposed Global Governance Initiative (GGI) shows that countries in the Global South are capable of making proposals for building an orderly global governance system, and that their voices should be genuinely heard, said Carlos Correa, executive director of the South Centre.

Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the South Centre serves as the intergovernmental think tank of the Global South, committed to advancing shared interests among Southern nations.

Serving as the executive director of the South Centre since July 2018, Correa has consistently highlighted the importance of the multilateral trading system at international forums. He also said that China's economic development has injected momentum into global economic recovery.

In a recent interview with Xinhua, Correa said that the majority of the world's population lives in Global South countries, which account for an important share of global GDP. However, in many cases, the influence of Global South countries is not fully reflected in the outcomes of international negotiations.

Although developing countries have called for reforms for many years, little progress has been made, and their interests have yet to be safeguarded, said Correa.

The China-proposed GGI is very important as it demonstrates that countries in the Global South are capable of making proposals for building an orderly global governance system, said Correa, noting that supporting the initiative and working around the principles it proposes is relevant for developing countries.

The current crisis in the international system is largely caused by some countries' unilateral measures, Correa told Xinhua, pointing to recent violations by the United States of the principle of sovereign equality enshrined in the UN Charter.

Correa noted that the United States has arbitrarily imposed tariffs based on its own interests and political considerations, severely undermining trust in the multilateral system.

Efforts are needed to address the current lack of trust in order to strengthen the international system and ensure that the principles on which it is based are preserved, acted and enforced, said Correa, calling on countries affected by unilateral actions to respond in a "more organized" manner and act in solidarity with other nations in confronting these measures.

Correa told Xinhua that the South Centre supports the establishment of a multilateral system that reflects the interests of all countries, and that such a system not only benefits the Global South but is also crucial for the world as a whole.

To make global governance fairer, members of the international community must first of all respect the rules, he said, noting it is also necessary to adjust certain rules to ensure that the voices of Global South countries are genuinely heard. Enditem