On February 10, the international webinar titled “QUADRO: Reimagining Collective Leadership in a Fragmented World Order”, organized by the renowned think tank CUTS International (Consumer Unity & Trust Society), was successfully concluded.
The webinar focused on how the four most consequential powers—China, the United States, Russia, and India—can bridge the current global leadership vacuum through pragmatic cooperation amidst a complex geopolitical landscape. Discussions centered on restoring predictability to the international order and managing shared risks in critical areas such as trade, climate, security, and emerging technologies.
Professor Yu Miaojie, Fellow of the International Economic Association (IEA) and President of Liaoning University (LNU), was invited to attend via video link and delivered a keynote address.
In his remarks, Prof. Yu emphasized that despite the trade protectionism and hegemonic actions pursued by certain nations, adhering to economic globalization remains the critical path for promoting global development, particularly in fostering common prosperity for the Global South. He pointed out that the historical process of economic globalization is irreversible; its benefits regarding division of labor efficiency, technology diffusion, and development opportunities cannot be replaced by any unilateralist policies. Even against the backdrop of "decoupling and breaking supply chains" by some developed nations, Prof. Yu argued that an economic globalization—even one without the participation of the United States—can still provide immense development momentum for the Global South.
Prof. Yu stated that China, with its complete industrial chains, massive market scale, and sustained policies of opening up, has the capacity to lead a new round of economic globalization. He stated that China acts as a stabilizing force for the world economy, helping to avert deep crises and effectively mitigating the risks of geopolitical conflict.
While acknowledging that strategic competition is difficult to avoid, Prof. Yu called for a focus on the broad space for pragmatic cooperation in fields such as trade, climate change, and public health. He urged the four powers—China, the United States, Russia, and India—to construct a new type of major-power relationship characterized by the “coexistence of competition and cooperation”. He suggested achieving this through mechanisms such as the alignment of technical standards, data sharing, and crisis communication to provide stable expectations for global governance.
Through a structured and interactive format, participating experts explored core issues including the global leadership vacuum, the Kindleberger Trap, and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. Prof. Yu’s address provided clear insights and practical pathways from a Chinese perspective on reshaping collective leadership in a fragmented world, receiving widespread recognition from the attending guests.
The webinar featured leading international scholars and policy experts, including Justin Yifu Lin, Honorary Dean of the National School of Development and Dean of the Institute of South-South Cooperation and Development at Peking University; Bruce Stokes, Visiting Senior Fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States; Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury, Diplomatic Editor of The Economic Times, India; Leonid Savin, Geopolitical Analyst and Chief Editor of Geopolitika; and Pradeep S. Mehta, Secretary General of CUTS International.
