As the world marks United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation on September 12, attention turns to China’s evolving approach to international development. Moving beyond traditional aid models, Beijing is prioritizing sustainable empowerment through knowledge-sharing and capacity-building initiatives across the Global South.
The Global Development Initiative (GDI), launched by Chinese leader Xi Jinping in 2021, has become a cornerstone of this strategy. With $10 billion allocated to advance UN Sustainable Development Goals, China is channeling resources into projects that create lasting impact. Recent commitments include 12 billion yuan ($1.68 billion) in grants and loans to Shanghai Cooperation Organization members for infrastructure and green energy projects.
What sets China’s approach apart is its focus on technology transfer and skill development. Through programs like the FAO-China South-South Cooperation initiative, Chinese agricultural experts have shared 450+ technologies with African nations, directly improving yields for 30,000+ farmers. “These partnerships aren’t about temporary solutions,” notes Stephen Ndegwa of Nairobi-based South-South Dialogues. “They’re creating self-sufficient food systems through knowledge transfer.”
This shift aligns with developing nations’ growing demand for agency in their development trajectories. While financial support remains crucial – evidenced by China’s $2.3 billion climate financing pledge to developing countries in 2023 – the emphasis on cultivating local expertise signals a new phase in South-South cooperation. As emerging economies face complex challenges from climate change to digital transformation, China’s blend of funding and knowledge-sharing offers a template for collaborative progress.
