Chinese-Path Modernization: A New Paradigm and New Opportunities for "Global South" Modernization

Modernization is a development goal that human society has long pursued and an irresistible historical trend. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "The collective rise of the Global South is a distinctive hallmark of the major changes in the world. The common march of Global South countries toward modernization is a major event in world history and an unprecedented feat in the process of human civilization." As the world's largest developing country and an important member of the Global South, China has successfully embarked on a modernization path that suits its own national conditions. With its unique path choice, outstanding practical achievements, and broad international influence, Chinese-path modernization provides new path options and exemplary strength for Global South countries striving for modernization.

现代化是人类社会孜孜以求的发展目标，是不可阻挡的历史潮流。习近平总书记指出：“‘全球南方’群体性崛起，是世界大变局的鲜明标志。‘全球南方’国家共同迈向现代化是世界历史上一件大事，也是人类文明进程中史无前例的壮举”。作为世界上最大的发展中国家和“全球南方”的重要一员，中国成功走出了一条符合自身国情的现代化道路，中国式现代化以其独特的道路选择、卓越的实践成果与广泛的国际影响，为“全球南方”国家走向现代化提供了新的路径选择与典范力量。

The Coexistence of Opportunities and Challenges for Global South Modernization

“全球南方”现代化的机遇与困境并存之态

"At present, the Global South is gaining strong momentum and playing an increasingly important role in the cause of human progress." As a collective of emerging market economies and developing countries, Global South countries have significantly enhanced their influence in the global economy, with their share of global GDP rising from 24% to over 40%. At the same time, South-South cooperation is deepening, and cooperation among developing countries in trade, investment, technology exchange, and other areas is continuously strengthening, providing broad space for Global South countries to jointly address challenges, share experiences, and achieve mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. Moreover, the adjustment of the global economic landscape and the trend toward multilateralism have also created favorable conditions for Global South countries to strive for more development rights and international voice, enabling them to advance their modernization under a more just and reasonable international environment.

“当前，全球南方声势卓然壮大，在人类进步事业中发挥着越来越重要的作用”。作为新兴市场国家和发展中国家的集合体，全球南方国家在全球经济中的影响力显著增强，国内生产总值的全球占比从24%增至40%以上。同时，南南合作日益深化，发展中国家之间在贸易、投资、技术交流等方面的合作不断加强，为全球南方国家共同应对挑战、分享经验、实现互利共赢提供了广阔空间。此外，全球经济格局的调整和多边主义的发展趋势也为“全球南方”国家争取更多的发展权益和国际话语权创造了有利条件，使其能够在更加公平合理的国际环境中推进现代化事业。

However, most Southern countries still face complex and severe situations. From the perspective of economic structure, many countries have long relied on the export of primary products, with a single industrial structure, a passive position in the global trade pattern, and the dilemma of huge risks from price fluctuations and deteriorating terms of trade. At the same time, industrial development lags behind, with a lack of core technologies and innovation capabilities, near absence from high-end manufacturing and emerging technology industries, and marginalization in the global division of labor. In terms of infrastructure, transportation networks are incomplete, energy supply is unstable, and communication facilities are backward. Social development is also fraught with difficulties: educational resources are severely unevenly distributed, making it difficult to cultivate talents suited to modernization; medical and health conditions are poor, and disease prevention and control systems are fragile; the wide gap between rich and poor triggers social instability, and social stratification hinders the advancement of modernization.

然而，多数南方国家仍面临着复杂且严峻的形势。从经济结构来看，众多国家长期依赖初级产品出口，产业结构单一，在全球贸易格局中处于被动地位，面临着价格波动带来的巨大风险和贸易条件恶化的困境。同时，工业发展滞后，缺乏核心技术与创新能力，在高端制造、新兴科技产业中几近缺席，于全球产业分工里被边缘化。基础设施方面，交通网络不完善、能源供应不稳定、通信设施落后。社会发展亦是难题重重，教育资源分配严重不均，难以培育适应现代化建设的人才；医疗卫生条件恶劣，疾病防控体系脆弱；贫富差距悬殊引发社会不稳定，社会阶层分化阻碍现代化推进。

The Demonstrative Effect of Chinese-Path Modernization on Global South Modernization

中国式现代化对“全球南方”现代化的示范效应

Chinese-path modernization provides a classic example for Global South countries to independently explore development paths suited to their own national conditions. "To govern a country and advance its modernization, there is no single path of the Western institutional model; each country can forge its own path." China has always adhered to the principle of independence and resolutely rejected blind imitation of the Western model. From the socialist transformation in the early days of the founding of New China, to the market-oriented reforms after reform and opening up, and then to the innovation-driven high-quality development strategy in the New Era, every step has been closely integrated with its unique historical and cultural heritage, social system structure, and economic base conditions. Relying on its own wisdom and strength, China has successfully responded to various complex and volatile international situations and internal challenges, achieving sustained and stable economic and social development. This process clearly shows that only by basing themselves on their own realities, deeply tapping their own advantages, and firmly exploring modernization paths that fit their national conditions can Global South countries completely shake off excessive dependence on external models and truly grasp the initiative in development.

中国式现代化为“全球南方”国家提供了独立自主探索适合本国国情发展道路的经典范例。“治理一个国家，推动一个国家实现现代化，并不只有西方制度模式这一条道，各国完全可以走出自己的道路来”。中国始终坚守独立自主的原则，坚决摒弃盲目追随西方模式。从新中国成立初期的社会主义改造，到改革开放后的市场化改革，再到新时代以创新驱动为核心的高质量发展战略，每一步都紧密结合自身独特的历史文化底蕴、社会制度架构和经济基础条件。中国依靠自身智慧和力量，成功应对了各种复杂多变的国际局势和内部挑战，实现了经济社会的持续稳定发展。这一历程清晰地表明，“全球南方”国家唯有立足本国实际，深度挖掘自身优势，坚定地探索符合自身国情的现代化路径，才能彻底摆脱对外部模式的过度依赖，真正掌握发展的主动权。

Chinese-path modernization always places people's interests first and insists that development fruits are shared by all the people. In the process of poverty alleviation, China invested huge human, material, and financial resources, and through precise identification and targeted assistance, implemented a series of comprehensive measures such as industrial poverty alleviation, relocation poverty alleviation, educational poverty alleviation, and health poverty alleviation, ensuring that every poor family and poor individual could benefit precisely, successfully achieving poverty alleviation and prosperity. In the field of education, it is committed to promoting educational equity and quality development, strengthening educational support in poor areas, and through policies such as the "Special Post Plan" [1]1 The "Special Post Plan" (Te Gang Ji Hua) refers to the Special Post Plan for Teachers in Rural Compulsory Education Schools, implemented by the central government to alleviate the shortage of teachers in rural areas by recruiting college graduates to teach in rural schools., supplementing teaching staff for remote areas, cultivating a large number of high-quality talents adapted to the needs of modernization. In terms of medical care, a medical security system covering urban and rural areas has been established, continuously expanding the scope of medical insurance reimbursement and increasing the reimbursement ratio, strengthening the construction of primary medical and health institutions, ensuring that people have access to medical care when sick. This people-centered development concept and practice model profoundly enlightens Global South countries to pay attention to the well-being of the people in modernization, fully stimulate the enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity of the masses, and make the people steadfast supporters and active participants in modernization.

中国式现代化始终将人民的利益置于首位，坚持发展成果由全体人民共享。在脱贫攻坚过程中，中国投入巨大的人力、物力和财力，通过精准识别、精准帮扶，实施产业扶贫、易地搬迁扶贫、教育扶贫、健康扶贫等一系列综合措施，确保每一个贫困家庭和贫困人口都能精准受益，成功实现脱贫致富。在教育领域，致力于推动教育公平与优质发展，加强贫困地区教育扶持，通过“特岗计划”等政策为偏远地区补充师资力量，为国家培养了大批适应现代化建设需求的高素质人才。在医疗方面，构建起覆盖城乡的医疗保障体系，不断扩大医保报销范围、提高报销比例，加强基层医疗卫生机构建设，确保民众病有所医。这种以人民为中心的发展理念和实践模式深刻启示全球南方国家在现代化建设中关注民生福祉，充分激发人民群众的积极性、主动性和创造性，使人民成为现代化建设的坚定拥护者和积极参与者。

Chinese-path modernization adopts a gradual reform and development strategy, emphasizing the systemic, holistic, and coordinated nature of reform. Rural reform took the lead in breaking through; after the success of the household contract responsibility system [2]2 The household contract responsibility system is a form of agricultural production responsibility system implemented in the early stage of China's rural reform. On the premise of maintaining collective ownership of land, it contracts land to individual households for management, implementing "contracted production quotas to households," breaking through the original people's commune system., it was orderly expanded to key reform areas such as urban state-owned enterprises and the financial system. Opening up to the outside world started from special economic zones and coastal open cities, gradually expanding to inland and border areas, forming an all-round opening-up pattern. Each step was adapted to the level of domestic economic and social development and its carrying capacity, with attention to coordination and orderly linkage between various reform measures, achieving a smooth transformation and upgrading of the economy and society. This gradual development model provides valuable experience for Global South countries, especially for those with relatively fragile political and social environments and weaker economic foundations. On the basis of maintaining social stability, advancing modernization step by step and in a planned manner in light of their own actual conditions and development stages can effectively reduce reform risks and improve the success rate and sustainability of development.

中国式现代化采用渐进式的改革与发展策略，注重改革的系统性、整体性、协同性。农村改革率先突破，家庭联产承包责任制成功后，有序拓展至城市国有企业、金融体制等关键改革领域。对外开放从经济特区、沿海开放城市起步，渐次扩大至内陆沿边，形成全方位开放格局。每一步都与国内经济社会发展水平和承受能力相适应，注重各项改革措施之间的协调配合与有序衔接，实现了经济社会的平稳转型和升级发展。这种渐进式发展模式为“全球南方”国家提供了宝贵经验，特别是对于那些政治社会环境相对脆弱、经济基础较为薄弱的国家而言，在保持社会稳定的基础上，结合本国实际情况和发展阶段，分步骤、有计划地推进现代化建设，能够有效降低改革风险，提高发展的成功率和可持续性。

Chinese-path modernization relies on technological innovation to drive economic development and regards talent cultivation as the key support for scientific and technological innovation. Outstanding achievements have been made in the field of science and technology: 5G communication technology has numerous patents and global leading base station construction, giving rise to emerging industries such as the intelligent Internet of Things; high-speed rail technology has evolved from introduction to independent innovation and then to exporting standards, becoming a benchmark for high-end manufacturing; aerospace has achieved major breakthroughs such as manned spaceflight and deep space exploration, ranking among the world's top; new energy technology integration innovation has yielded fruitful results, promoting global energy transformation. Education reform has been comprehensively deepened: basic education strengthens quality education and innovation enlightenment, and the construction of "Double First-Class" universities [3]3 "Double First-Class" refers to the construction of world-class universities and first-class disciplines, a higher education development strategy implemented by the Chinese government since 2017 to enhance the international competitiveness of Chinese universities. gathers top talent and research resources, cultivating a large number of innovative high-quality talents. "Science and technology are the primary productive forces, talent is the first resource, and innovation is the primary driving force." Global South countries should deeply recognize the key role of technological innovation and talent cultivation in the modernization process, increase investment in scientific research and development, strengthen the cultivation and introduction of scientific and technological talents, create a favorable environment for scientific and technological innovation, rely on technological innovation to drive economic growth and social progress, and achieve leapfrog development.

中国式现代化倚重科技创新驱动经济发展，将人才培养视作科技创新的关键支撑。科技领域建树突出，5G通信技术专利众多、基站建设全球领先，催生智能物联网等新兴产业；高铁技术从引进到自主创新再到输出标准，成为高端制造业标杆；航天航空实现载人航天、深空探测等重大突破，跻身世界前列；新能源技术集成创新成果丰硕，推动全球能源转型。教育改革全面深化，基础教育强化素质教育与创新启蒙，高校“双一流”建设汇聚顶尖人才与科研资源，培育大量创新型高素质人才。“科技是第一生产力、人才是第一资源、创新是第一动力”。“全球南方”国家应深刻认识到科技创新和人才培养在现代化进程中的关键作用，加大对科技研发的投入力度，加强科技人才的培养和引进，营造良好的科技创新环境，依靠科技创新驱动经济增长和社会进步，实现跨越式发展。

The Practical Pathways for Chinese-Path Modernization to Assist Global South Modernization

中国式现代化助力“全球南方”现代化的实践路径

The Belt and Road Initiative has built a solid support platform for the modernization of Global South countries, with remarkable achievements in the field of infrastructure construction. With advanced technology and rich experience, China actively participates in the construction of infrastructure projects such as roads, railways, ports, airports, and energy in Global South countries. The China-Laos Railway, opened to traffic, has activated industries such as tourism, agriculture, and logistics along the line, effectively promoting Laos' industrialization and urbanization process, and has become a model of regional connectivity; the China-Thailand Railway is progressing steadily, which will strengthen Thailand's status as a transportation hub in Southeast Asia and enhance the scope and influence of Thailand's economy; energy cooperation under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has effectively alleviated Pakistan's energy shortage, providing a stable energy guarantee for its industrial production and residents' lives. Through these infrastructure cooperation projects, China has helped Southern countries improve their hardware conditions, injected strong momentum into their economic development, and at the same time expanded the international market space for Chinese enterprises, achieving mutual benefit and win-win outcomes and common development, effectively promoting the joint march toward modernization of the co-building countries.

“一带一路”倡议为“全球南方”国家现代化构筑坚实支撑平台，在基础设施建设领域成果斐然。中国凭借先进的技术和丰富的经验，积极投身于“全球南方”国家的公路、铁路、港口、机场、能源等基础设施项目建设。中老铁路建成通车，激活沿线旅游、农业、物流等产业，有力推动老挝工业化、城市化进程，成为区域互联互通典范；中泰铁路建设稳步推进，将强化泰国在东南亚地区的交通枢纽地位，提升泰国经济的辐射范围和影响力；中巴经济走廊能源合作有效缓解巴基斯坦的能源短缺问题，为其工业生产和居民生活提供稳定的能源保障。通过这些基础设施建设合作项目，中国帮助南方国家改善了硬件条件，为其经济发展注入了强大动力，同时也为中国企业拓展了国际市场空间，实现了互利共赢、共同发展，有力地推动了共建国家共同迈向现代化。

China's trade and investment cooperation with Global South countries has continued to deepen and expand, providing key support for the industrial upgrading of Southern countries. Through direct investment in Southern countries, Chinese enterprises have established production bases and conducted processing and manufacturing businesses there, transferring some industrial links to Southern countries, creating a large number of jobs, and driving the coordinated development of local upstream and downstream industries. At the same time, by exporting advanced technical equipment and manufactured goods, China helps Southern countries improve their industrial equipment levels and production efficiency, promoting their industrial technology upgrading. In trade cooperation, China actively expands imports from Southern countries, especially deep-processed products of primary goods such as agricultural products and minerals, encouraging Southern countries to develop characteristic industries and manufacturing, guiding them to extend their industrial chains and increase added value. Through these trade and investment cooperation measures, China has achieved complementary advantages with Southern countries, promoted the adjustment of their industrial structures and the transformation of their economic development models, and accelerated their modernization process.

中国与“全球南方”国家贸易投资合作持续深化拓展，为南方国家产业升级提供关键助力。中国企业通过对南方国家的直接投资，在当地建设生产基地、开展加工制造业务，将部分产业环节向南方国家转移，创造了大量的就业机会，带动了当地上下游相关产业的协同发展。同时，出口先进的技术设备、工业制成品等，助力南方国家提升产业装备水平和生产效率，推动其产业技术升级。在贸易合作方面，中国积极扩大从南方国家的进口，特别是农产品、矿产品等初级产品的深加工制品，鼓励南方国家发展特色产业和制造业，引导其延伸产业链、提升附加值。通过这些贸易投资合作举措，中国实现了与南方国家的优势互补，促进了南方国家产业结构的调整和经济发展方式的转变，助力其现代化进程加速推进。

China actively carries out cooperation in technology transfer and capacity building, providing strong support for Global South countries to cultivate their independent development capabilities. "China strengthens technology transfer and transformation, helping developing countries enhance their scientific and technological innovation capabilities and industrial vocational skills." In the agricultural sector, China has transferred agricultural technology and management experience to African countries such as Tanzania, guided the construction of irrigation systems, promoted the cultivation of improved varieties, and assisted in the establishment of agricultural cooperatives to improve post-harvest processing and marketing capabilities, achieving increased grain production and income and the development of specialty agriculture. In the industrial sector, the China-Belarus Industrial Park has introduced advanced manufacturing technology and management models, carried out diverse technical training and talent cultivation projects, cultivated local professional talents, improved enterprise technology management levels, cultivated industrial clusters, and enhanced Belarus's independent industrial development and international competitiveness. Through these technology transfer and capacity building cooperation projects, Southern countries have gradually mastered advanced technology and management methods, cultivated their own technical talents and industrial teams, providing intrinsic impetus and technical support for achieving modernization.

中国积极开展技术转让与能力建设合作，为“全球南方”国家培育自主发展能力提供了有力支持。“中国加强技术转移转化，帮助发展中国家提升科技创新能力和产业职业技能”。农业领域，在坦桑尼亚等非洲国家转让农业技术与管理经验，指导建设灌溉系统、推广优良品种种植技术，协助成立农业合作社提升产后处理与营销能力，实现粮食增产增收与特色农业发展。工业领域，中白工业园引入先进制造业技术与管理模式，开展多元技术培训和人才培养项目，培育本土专业人才，提升企业技术管理水平，培育产业集群，增强白俄罗斯工业自主发展与国际竞争能力。通过这些技术转让与能力建设合作项目，南方国家逐步掌握先进的技术和管理方法，培养自己的技术人才和产业队伍，为实现现代化提供内在动力和技术支撑。

"China has always been a member of the Global South, a reliable long-term partner for developing countries, and an activist and doer supporting the global development cause." In the grand narrative of global modernization, China and Global South countries have engaged in deep exchanges and cooperation in multiple fields and at multiple levels, jointly exploring development paths suited to different national conditions. This will surely inject continuous vitality into the modernization cause of the Global South, promote the development of the world in a more fair, prosperous, and harmonious direction, and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind. (Authors: Ye Benqian, professor and doctoral supervisor at the School of Marxism, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, specially appointed researcher at the Sichuan Provincial Research Center for the Theory of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics; Fu Zhen, graduate student at the School of Marxism, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China)

“中国始终是‘全球南方’的一员，是发展中国家可靠的长期合作伙伴，也是支持全球发展事业的行动派和实干家”。在全球现代化的宏大叙事中，中国与“全球南方”国家在多领域、多层次深度交流与合作，共同探索适合不同国情的发展路径，必将为全球南方现代化事业注入源源不断的活力，推动世界朝着更加公平、繁荣、和谐的方向发展，携手构建人类命运共同体的美好未来。（作者：叶本乾，电子科技大学马克思主义学院教授、博士生导师，四川省中国特色社会主义理论体系研究中心特约研究员；傅朕，电子科技大学马克思主义学院研究生）

Online Editor: Hui Hui

网络编辑：慧慧