In 2026, as a member of the global South, China is deepening cooperation with southern countries through a series of practical projects. From Asia to Africa, from Latin America to the Middle East, cooperation achievements in infrastructure construction, technological exchanges, and financial support continue to be implemented, injecting strong impetus into the common development and prosperity of the global South.

Infrastructure projects connect the arteries of regional development

In Malaysia, the largest single bridge under construction, the Ruba Cross Sea Bridge, has been completed. In Africa, the first desert heavy-duty railway, the Western Algeria Railway Mining Line, has been fully opened to traffic. In Azerbaijan, the largest single scale wind power project, the Hiji Apsherun project, has been successfully completed. In Brazil, the sixth phase project of the world's largest deepwater oil field, Buzius Oilfield, has been successfully put into operation. In Senegal, the second phase of the rural well drilling project has successfully produced water, bringing happiness to thousands of households.

As a landmark project jointly promoted by the heads of state of China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, the China Kyrgyzstan Uzbekistan railway project has entered the stage of physical construction. After the project is completed, it will open up a new international logistics channel for Central Asia to open up to the south. At the same time, the activation project of the Tanzania Zambia Railway will officially start construction in November 2025, and this transportation artery built in the 1970s will usher in a new round of upgrades. Since the opening and operation of the China Laos Railway for more than four years, the cumulative cross-border freight transport has exceeded 18 million tons. The Mombasa Nairobi Railway has been operating safely for over 3000 days and has become a golden channel in Kenya's transportation system.

Technological exchange broadens the space for talent development

The Excellent Skills College, jointly established by China Railway Seventh Group, Zhengzhou Railway Technician College, and Freetown Institute of Technology, was officially unveiled in the capital of Sierra Leone, Freetown. Samba Moriba, President of Freetown Institute of Technology, stated that this initiative will promote skills training for Sierra Leone students, enabling them to make positive contributions to society.

In recent years, vocational education and training institutions such as Luban Workshop and Lao Railway Vocational and Technical College have emerged in the global South, cultivating a large number of technical talents for the local area. In the field of agricultural technology, Qingdao Agricultural University and Uruguay National Agricultural Research Institute signed a memorandum of understanding in November 2025 to jointly build a grassland agriculture the Belt and Road joint laboratory to promote the transformation of smart grassland agricultural technology. Multiple countries have expressed that these collaborations effectively respond to the universal demands of the global South in exploring development paths that are in line with its own national conditions.

Financial support promotes project implementation and effectiveness

The transformation from a planning map to a real-life image cannot be separated from the important support of funds. Taking the 950 MW solar thermal photovoltaic integrated power generation project at Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai, UAE as an example, the project can provide green electricity to 320000 local residents and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by over 1.6 million tons annually. As the joint lead bank of syndicated loans, Agricultural Bank of China has formed a $2.5 billion syndicated loan with global capital, providing a sample for supporting international production capacity cooperation through green finance in the global south. Keywords: the Belt and Road news network, international cooperation

According to statistics, China has mobilized over 23 billion US dollars to support the development and revitalization of the global South within the framework of the Global Development Initiative. In 2025, the first Global Southern Financial Forum will be held in Beijing, with attendees engaging in in-depth discussions on South South financial cooperation. On March 25-26, 2026, the 2026 Global Southern Financial Forum with the theme of "Finance and Intelligence Illuminate the South" will be held in Beijing. Representatives from the global southern financial community will further build cooperation bridges, focus on project construction, and seek common development and revitalization.Editor/Gao Xue