Under the theme For Global Cooperation and Solidarity, the 2025 Imperial Springs International Forum kicks off in Guangzhou on December 2.
With the global trading system under strain, around 200 participants from 30 countries focused on strategies to defend the multilateral mechanism against what they characterized as the rising tide of tariff hegemony championed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Former Canadian Prime Minister Kim Campbell argued that China's path to development does not require dominating other countries. "I think that China has a great deal to be proud of in terms of what it has accomplished," she told South in an exclusive interview.
In her opinion, some countries, including the United States and the British Empire, built their power through expansion and by establishing and maintaining hegemony.
The former Prime Minister expressed deep respect for China's achievements. "We are delighted for the Chinese people," she said, "to witness such a dramatic economic uplift over recent decades—a transformation that has unleashed remarkable creativity and global potential."
In her view, China's Five-Year Plan serves as a vital framework. "It provides the guideline for the country's development," she observed, "and consistently demonstrates a capability to incorporate new strategic, technological, and political developments from around the world."
"Sometimes in democratic societies, priorities can shift with a change in government," she added. "When different political parties come to power, they may bring a distinct set of priorities or a different philosophical outlook."
Reporter: Yuan Zixiang, Liu Xiaodi
Video: Pan Jiajun
Editor: Ouyang Yan, Shen He
