Global South countries are strong promoters and defenders of world peace and will play a crucial role in establishing a stable and multipolar world, said Anna Rosario Malindog-Uy, vice president of the Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute in Beijing on Wednesday.
As a guest of the Global South Think Tanks Forum, she stressed South-South cooperation is emerging as a new model of cooperation among developing countries and emerging economies in the global majority.
"I think what is important at the moment is, even though there is no such thing as an organization of Global South countries, but you have already existing organization that actually represents the global majority or the Global South. And you have the BRICS. The BRICS countries are part of the Global South. It is a loose organization, but it represents, it amplifies the voice of the Global South, and it advocates security issues. And one thing that we have to remember, when you talk about the Global South, there is already an emerging concept right now, what you call South-South cooperation and development. In that South-South cooperation and development, you can see that countries in the Global South are partners in development," said Malindog-Uy.
"We are now seeing the emergence of what you call a multi-polar world. It is not a world dominated by the West, but the Global South is playing an important role in global governance and dynamics, especially in economics and development. I think this is a very good development. It is something to do with security, but it is non-traditional security," she continued.
The Global South Think Tanks Forum, held in Beijing on Wednesday with both online and offline formats, highlighted the voices and perspectives of the Global South and aimed to foster dialogue for a more secure and prosperous future.
The event, organized by the International Department of the CPC Central Committee and the China Media Group, attracted participation from political figures, government representatives, analysts, scholars, and journalists from 76 countries and regions worldwide.
Global south countries strong promoters of multipolar development: scholar
Global south countries strong promoters of multipolar development: scholar
Palestinians are pinning their hopes on the newly-formed National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NGAC), believing the body can play a key role in alleviating the suffering and improving the living conditions of people across the Gaza Strip amid an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.
The Palestinian technocratic committee was formed on Jan. 16 to temporarily administer the post-war Gaza Strip, with a Palestinian source saying on Sunday that members of the committee are now preparing to enter the enclave to begin their work.
Hamas has previously reaffirmed its readiness to hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to the committee and to facilitate its mission, while the Palestinian presidency also announced its support for the body, emphasizing the importance of linking institutions in the West Bank and Gaza and rejecting the establishment of parallel administrative, legal, or security systems that could deepen division.
Residents in the Gaza Strip expect the committee will have the capacity to help rebuild the devastated enclave, despite the enormous challenges brought by the brutal war between Israel and Hamas which has left more than two million Palestinians in a desperately precarious situation.
"It is not the best of options, but it is the only option left for the Palestinian people. There are two aspects: the humanitarian aspect and the political aspect. The technocratic committee has nothing to do with the issue of self-determination or political rights, which is, in fact, a very serious issue, as Palestinians may wake up in the future to find themselves reduced to a mere humanitarian and reconstruction issue. However, under the current reality, and given the social and living conditions of some two million people in the Gaza Strip, neither the right to self-determination nor the international community nor the new world order cares about their daily reality. What matters to people is finding treatment and medicine, and spending the night in a tent that is not flooded and where their children do not freeze from the cold," said Thabet Al-Amour, a political analyst specializing in Palestinian affairs.
Despite these challenges, many Gazans say the committee offers a glimmer of hope which can map out a more stable future.
"We support Palestinian consensus wherever it may be, and we seek to establish this committee as a fundamental body because it is the only body that represents us as the Palestinian people and feels the pain of residents who have been crushed by war. We need it, at least as a first step, to prove to the world that Palestinians are capable of managing their own affairs, paving the way for reconstruction, a complete end to the war, and the withdrawal of the [Israeli] occupation," said Mohammed Al-Ahmad, a resident in Gaza.
Many outlined what they see as the key priorities for the committee, and believe it must act immediately to help ease the day-to-day suffering in the Gaza Strip.
"The greatest thing it can offer is to the exhausted and destitute people. We need electricity, water, solar energy, and we need real homes instead of tents that have no electricity or any of the essentials of life," said Fayez Abu Jazar, another Palestinian resident.
"We look to it with hope; hope for the lifting of injustice and alleviation of our suffering. We Palestinians need relief, travel, reconstruction, and the restoration of our rights; in short, we need everything," said Tamer Qishta, a Palestinian journalist in the region.
While the formation of the committee paves the way for the start of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, Palestinian sources reported that three Palestinians were killed on Sunday by Israeli army fire in the Gaza Strip, while four others were wounded in a drone attack.
Gaza-based health authorities said the death toll since the ceasefire came into effect last October has now risen to 484, with over 1,300 wounded. This brings the total number of fatalities since the conflict erupted in October 2023 to 71,657.
Gaza residents pin hopes on newly-formed committee to improve dire conditions
