Lilei Song (Tongji U, Shanghai) | A comparative analysis of China and the EU's conceptualisation and implementation of policies towards the Global South

The concept of the Global South originates from the historical context of developing countries and the notion of the Third World. In recent years, the Global South has gained considerable influence in international governance discussions. China, once positioned in a “middle ground,” now identifies as the world’s largest developing country and is widely regarded as part of the Global South. It is actively exploring ways to deepen strategic cooperation with other Global South nations, positioning this bloc as a key element of its diplomatic agenda. In response, the European Union must adapt to an increasingly multipolar global order and address the growing prominence of the Global South. Academic discourse has increasingly focused on the rise of the Global South and its implications for global politics and economics. These discussions often examine the strategies of major powers—including China, the United States, Russia, and India—toward the Global South, but a comparative analysis of these approaches remains limited.

This talk aims to clarify how China and the European Union conceptualize the Global South differently. It will also explore the strategic divergences between them in terms of objectives, methods, and priorities for engagement. Theoretically, such an analysis contributes to the broader study of China-EU relations. Practically, the Global South presents both a new frontier for collaboration and a strategic platform for China to pursue its goals in partnership with the EU.

Dr. Lilei  Song is Professor at School of Political Science and International Relations of Tongji University in Shanghai. She is also Director of the European Research Center of Tongji University and Research fellow at its German Research Center. She has published more than 30 articles in academic periodicals in Chinese and English, two monographs on EU diplomacy, and four collections of papers on China-EU relations. She was a visiting researcher, among others, at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Corvinus University of Budapest, and University of Oxford, and she was a Think Visegrad Non-V4 Expert Fellow at the Institute of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Budapest.

The talk is organized by the Graduate School in cooperation with the Leibniz IOS and the Leibniz ScienceCampus.