The 2026 Think Tank Forum on National Governance in Developing Countries convened in Beijing on June 26, focusing on the role and responsibilities of political parties in advancing national and global governance. Co-hosted by the Party School of the CPC Central Committee and other Chinese institutions, the forum provided a platform for experts to discuss political party governance under the broader theme of “Mission and Contributions of Political Parties.”

Central to the discussions was China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which was highlighted as a practical framework that supports the implementation of four major global initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping: the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative. The BRI was described as an operational mechanism linking infrastructural connectivity, financial integration, and digital cooperation to these broader goals.

The Global Development Initiative aims to accelerate Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by enhancing cooperation to reduce development disparities. The Global Security Initiative promotes dialogue and rejects confrontational blocs and zero-sum rivalry, emphasizing economic interdependence and regional stability facilitated by the BRI. The Global Civilization Initiative calls for respect for cultural diversity and mutual learning among civilizations, with the BRI enabling people-to-people exchanges, academic collaborations, and training programs. Meanwhile, the Global Governance Initiative advocates for a more equitable and representative international governance system, with the BRI creating new multilateral cooperation platforms and amplifying the voices of developing countries.

Speakers underlined that governance modernization requires vision, collective leadership, and social consensus beyond technical reforms. Political parties in both developed and developing countries face shared challenges: tailoring development strategies to national contexts, building transparent governance systems, and leveraging initiatives like the BRI to promote modernization.

The forum also examined the relevance of Chinese governance experience for regions such as Latin America. The Communist Party of China’s century-long evolution has produced an organizational model characterized by long-term strategic planning and deep grassroots presence. In contrast, Latin American parties often operate within short electoral cycles and suffer from fragmentation and weak community engagement. The CPC’s embedded grassroots branches, which maintain continuous dialogue with communities and mediate social concerns, were presented as a reference point for Latin American parties to build lasting institutional capacity beyond election-driven mobilization, though not as a model to be copied directly.

Further discussions emphasized how China’s political system intertwines with its civilizational heritage, advocating for governance models that draw on indigenous traditions rather than external frameworks. Developing countries were encouraged to foster consensus on governance while respecting cultural diversity and adapting proven governance principles to local realities. The importance of cross-cultural interpretation and knowledge exchange was stressed, highlighting the role of sinology in bridging different civilizational logics and promoting pluralistic global governance knowledge.

The evolving mission of political parties was a recurring theme, noting that modern parties must move beyond electoral competition to facilitate broader citizen participation in governance and public decision-making. In a more interconnected world, political parties are also expected to contribute to international public diplomacy, enhancing mutual understanding and cooperation necessary for sustainable development.

Participants expressed optimism about strengthening political party cooperation, including through mechanisms like the China-Central Asia dialogue, to advance friendship and governance collaboration among peoples. The forum underscored the view that political parties remain essential institutional actors in responding to contemporary challenges, shaping social consensus, and contributing to shared global progress.