Justice guides the countries of the Global South in their pursuit of equal participation in shaping the future world. This view was expressed in an interview with Xinhua by Anastasia Savinykh, analyst at the Belarusian Institute for Strategic Research (BISR).
“In an era of profound transformations in international relations, when old models of global governance are undergoing fundamental reassessment, justice guides the actions of the countries of the Global South as they seek equal participation in shaping the world of the future,” she emphasised.
According to the analyst, the idea of justice in international relations directly resonates with the principles of the “Shanghai Spirit”, which include mutual trust, equality and mutual benefit.
“Justice is inseparable from the five principles of peaceful coexistence, which remain an enduring point of reference for the Global South: mutual respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence. These principles, formulated in the 1950s, are acquiring new relevance today,” the expert added.
“In this sense, justice means rejecting unipolar models, the collapse of which we are witnessing today, and transitioning to a system in which the Global South does not merely respond but sets the agenda,” A. Savinykh stated.
In her view, the SCO Summit in Tianjin became a landmark event that demonstrated the organisation’s real potential as a platform for building a multipolar and just global order.
“The Global Governance Initiative proposed by China marked an important shift in China’s foreign policy from regional strategies to a global vision. Belarus interprets the initiative as a constructive contribution to shaping a more just and sustainable world order that aligns with our national and foreign policy priorities. At the summit, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko unequivocally reaffirmed our full and steadfast support for this initiative,” A. Savinykh stressed.
The expansion of BRICS in the past three years is a vivid indicator of the growing dynamism of the Global South, she noted.
“In 2025, BRICS stands as one of the key forces in advancing the South–South cooperation agenda. The appeal of BRICS for the countries of the Global South, in my view, lies in its unique combination of flexibility, the absence of rigid obligations, and its orientation towards pragmatic equality. This distinguishes the alliance from traditional groupings and makes it a genuine space for like-minded partners,” the expert said.
She added that, unlike Western-centric formats, BRICS focuses on the interests of developing countries.
“For the Global South, BRICS is not merely an instrument but a strategic asset that facilitates the transition towards an equitable world in which South–South cooperation becomes a driver of sustainable development,” the analyst stated.
According to A. Savinykh, the role of the SCO and the Belt and Road Initiative in advancing South–South cooperation is strategically decisive and highly effective, as these formats embody the natural and irreversible process of growing agency within the Global South.
“In circumstances where traditional development models face a legitimacy crisis due to sanctions, technological fragmentation and mutual distrust, these platforms offer an alternative path based on the principles of mutual respect, equality and a focus on tangible outcomes. They not only complement one another but transform geographic and economic linkages into the foundation of a just global order in which the countries of the South define their own trajectory of progress. The SCO, as a multilateral structure with an expanding agenda, serves as an anchor of stability and innovation,” she concluded.