Information Independence of Global South Countries Discussed in Kunming

The 2025 Global South Media and Think Tank Forum was held in Kunming, China. Approximately 500 representatives from 110 countries and regions attended the Forum. The main topics of discussion were strengthening communication, jointly finding solutions to global challenges, and protecting the cultural independence of developing countries.
One of the central events of the forum was the presentation of a report by the Xinhua Institute titled "Colonization of the Mind: The Means, Roots, and Global Dangers of US Cognitive Warfare." The document provides a detailed analysis of the mechanisms of information and ideological influence that, according to the authors, the United States uses to maintain global inequality.
The report emphasizes that "colonization of the mind" manifests itself through the manipulation of public opinion, covert penetration of cultural and educational systems, and long-term impact on society's value systems. The "hard foundation" is US political, military, and economic hegemony, while the "soft foundation" is the use of language, media, and academia.
The experts expressed particular concern about the development of artificial intelligence technologies, noting that they could become a tool for even more covert mind control.
The report's authors called on countries in the Global South to build cultural confidence and jointly counter these processes.
The Forum as a Platform for Cooperation
In addition to analytical discussions, the forum became a platform for strengthening international ties. At the initiative of the Xinhua News Agency, t he Global Network of Southern Think Tanks for Cooperation and Communication was established, bringing together over 1,000 organizations from 95 countries. It will operate through the High-Level Think Tank Forum and the Global Southern News Network, offering joint projects, conferences, and special publications.
Forum participants emphasized the importance of information exchange and joint promotion of the "voice of the South." It is worth noting that in recent years Xinhua has established effective mechanisms for multilateral dialogue in recent years, thereby strengthening the positions of developing countries. Such mechanisms for media cooperation in the Global South contribute to the protection of common interests and the development of a fair system of global governance.
China's View on Global Change
Hu Heping, Vice Director of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, emphasized that China's initiatives in global governance can serve as a guide for countries in the Global South. In his speech, Xinhua News Agency President Fu Hua expressed readiness to cooperate with all parties to "build a community with a shared future for humanity."
In a video message, Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, called for strengthening global resilience and intercultural exchanges, emphasizing the need for a fair balance in the global information ecosystem.
The Kunming Forum became a landmark event for countries in the Global South, demonstrating a desire for greater independence in the information sphere and strengthened cooperation. Its participants were unanimous in their opinion: for the world to become more just, it is necessary not only to reform global governance but also to protect cultural identity by shaping its own agenda in global discourse.
Gulnara Safarli

SR-CENTER.INFO