China’s provision of global public goods is expected to be more effectuated amid the world’s fragmentation

The world today is undergoing intensifying fragmentation. Unilateralism, hegemonism and protectionism are on the rise; geopolitical conflicts are flaring up; the global governance system is under strain; economic globalization is facing headwinds; and the development gap between the Global North and the Global South remains glaring. As 2026 marks the start of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period, a systematic review of China’s practices in providing global public goods, an analysis of risks and challenges, and an exploration of pathways for coordinated development will not only take stock of China’s engagement with the world in the new era, but also offer forward-looking insights into the collective modernization of the Global South. This will provide practical support for China to break new ground amid global changes during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.

Guided by the vision of global governance featuring extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, China has steadily provided global public goods and emerged as a core force advancing self-strengthening and common development of the Global South, making remarkable breakthroughs in relevant practices.

First, a refined conceptual framework is reshaping the narrative of global development. China has put forward the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, Global Civilization Initiative and Global Governance Initiative, forming a comprehensive conceptual framework. Rooted in development-first, people-oriented and inclusive principles, this framework aligns closely with the development aspirations of Global South countries. The 15th Five-Year Plan prioritizes high-quality development and innovation-driven growth and pledges to deepen solidarity and cooperation with developing countries and support the collective self-strengthening of the Global South. It charts a course for China’s development while offering a model of reference for the modernization of the Global South.

Second, deepened cooperation mechanisms with countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative are forming a flagship platform. The BRI has become a widely welcomed international public good, evolving with “hard connectivity”,“soft connectivity” and “heart-to-heart connectivity”. Flagship projects such as the China-Europe Railway Express and the China-Laos Railway have directly boosted industrialization in host countries, and trade between China and the Belt and Road partner countries has repeatedly set records. In the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the BRI will focus more on sustainable and green development, align more closely with the Global Development Initiative, and help the Global South break out of low-end lock-in in the global value chain.

Third, high-performance trade platforms are empowering trade growth in the Global South. The Canton Fair and the China International Import Expo form a mutually empowering system of trade-related public goods, serving as core channels for the Global South to integrate into global trade and share in China’s vast market. The Canton Fair has evolved from a commodity trading venue into a comprehensive platform that leads rule-setting and promotes green development, facilitating stable trade linkages for enterprises from the Global South. The CIIE continues to expand opening-up and support for the Global South, offering free booths to least-developed countries and helping them bring their specialty products to the Chinese market, establishing itself as a vital international public good.

But against the backdrop of deepening global fragmentation, China’s provision of global public goods and deepening South-South cooperation face multiple hurdles stemming from the external environment, domestic transformation and diverse demands.

The first is the intensifying global governance fragmentation. Unilateralism and hegemonic practices pose growing threats. Some Western countries have instrumentalized development issues and over-securitized cooperation, frequently cutting off supplies and withdrawing from international agreements, thereby severely undermining the international order and the multilateral trading system. The World Trade Organization dispute settlement mechanism remains paralyzed; climate finance commitments are long unfulfilled; global rules for the digital sphere are lacking; and the voice of the Global South in global governance is seriously disproportionate to its economic weight, widening the global governance deficit.

The second is the pressure to upgrade and improve the quality of global public goods. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, China is likely to prioritize its supply more from quantity to quality. A lingering imbalance between “hard” and “soft” cooperation calls for fully integrating high-quality development into projects with the Global South and moving from scale expansion to quality enhancement. Meanwhile, China’s rule-making in emerging areas such as green and digital trade is still evolving, requiring closer alignment of standards and policy coordination with the Global South. At the same time, enterprises still face high compliance costs and difficulties in project implementation.

The third is the diversified demands of the Global South, which complicate targeted supply. The Global South comprises economies at varying levels of development, with distinct resource endowments and priorities. Shifting from “blanket coverage” to “targeted support” in public goods supply demands greater institutional innovation and model optimization from China.

In the 15th Five-Year Plan period, China and other Global South countries should join forces to transition China from being merely a provider to also an enabler of public goods, and other Global South countries from being just a beneficiary to also a co-builder of cooperation, exploring new models for South-South cooperation.

On the one hand, China will upgrade its global public goods supply system. As outlined in the 15th Five-Year Plan, it will strengthen synergy between the BRI and the Global Development Initiative, translate strategic priorities such as artificial intelligence and green energy into key drivers of South-South cooperation, promote joint research and technology transfer, and extend the benefits of innovation to the Global South. The Canton Fair and CIIE will be further upgraded: The Canton Fair will explore a dedicated Global South digital trade zone to support the digital transformation of developing countries; the CIIE will refine support programs for the least developed countries and improve full-chain exhibition services. Multilateral mechanisms such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will be leveraged to advance the reform of international financial institutions and strengthen the voice of the Global South in global governance.

On the other hand, the Global South should enhance its development autonomy to deepen win-win cooperation. Such cooperation will be increasingly defined by deeper alignment with the strategic direction of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, prioritization of cooperation needs based on national conditions, active shift from passive reception to active planning, and integration of national development strategies with China’s plan. It will strengthen policy coordination and experience-sharing through regional mechanisms such as the African Union, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States to build collective momentum for cooperation with China and improve project sustainability. It will also improve domestic institutional support, strengthen personnel training and capacity building, and enhance capabilities to host and implement projects for genuine mutual benefit.

The author is an associate professor at the School of Public Policy and Management at Tsinghua University.

The author contributed this article to China Watch, a think tank powered by China Daily. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

Contact the editor at editor@chinawatch.cn.