Islamabad, November 18, 2025 – The Europe Today: On 18th November 2025, A learning session on “What Does the Global South Mean for Türkiye and China in the 21st Century” was conducted under the joint China Fellowship Program at the University of Sargodha (UoS). The session was led by Dr. Selnaz Baskan Yurdakul, Professor at the Eastern Languages and Cultures Department, Sichuan International Studies University (SISU), China.
Dr. Selnaz delivered an insightful lecture explaining how the concept of the Global South shapes the strategic outlooks of both Türkiye and China. She highlighted that for China, the Global South represents both an identity and a strategic platform. China positions itself as a leading voice for developing nations, promoting South–South cooperation through initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), BRICS, and other multilateral forums. Through these efforts, China aims to support a multipolar global order where Global South countries hold greater influence.
Regarding Türkiye, Dr. Selnaz explained that the Global South serves as a flexible and dynamic space for expanding its diplomatic presence beyond traditional Western alliances. Türkiye leverages this identity to deepen engagement with Asia, Africa, and the Middle East while maintaining constructive ties with Europe and NATO, strengthening its image as an independent, proactive, and strategically diversified regional power. In summary, she noted that China views the Global South as a sphere of leadership, whereas Türkiye sees it as a sphere of opportunity and strategic diversification.
The session featured an engaging question-and-answer segment, during which students actively participated and exchanged perspectives with the speaker. This interactive discussion significantly enhanced participants’ understanding of the evolving geopolitical significance of the Global South.
The session concluded with closing remarks by Mr. Khalid Taimur Akram, Executive Director of the Pakistan Research Center for a Community with Shared Future (PRCCSF), who appreciated Dr. Selnaz Baskan Yurdakul for her insightful session and emphasized the importance of strengthening academic and cultural engagement between Pakistan, China, and Türkiye.
