Global South Think Tanks Dialogue In Shanghai Highlights TRENDS Commitment To Research Partnerships

TRENDS Research & Advisory, a UAE-based think tank, joined the Third Global South Think Tanks Dialogue in Shanghai, China, where representatives from research institutions discussed cooperation, sustainable development, and policy support. Participants agreed that closer knowledge partnerships among Global South think tanks are needed to respond more effectively to economic shifts and geopolitical changes affecting their societies.

The meeting ended with a clear call for ongoing coordination between participating think tanks and for real implementation of its outcomes. Delegates highlighted that joint research projects and structured cooperation programmes can give policymakers in Global South countries stronger evidence-based options to guide development strategies and public policy choices.

The Global South Think Tanks Dialogue was organised by the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party in cooperation with Fudan University. The event brought together numerous think tanks, research centres, and academic bodies from Global South states, reflecting a shared interest in a more inclusive global conversation on development, stability, and policy design.

TRENDS was represented by Abdulaziz Ahmed Al Shehhi, Senior Researcher and Deputy Head of the Research Sector, who took part in main sessions and side discussions. These sessions examined knowledge sharing, the role of research in shaping public policy, and the need to link sustainable development goals with economic transformations and fast-changing geopolitical realities.

Participants in the Global South Think Tanks Dialogue discussed how to create stronger networks between research institutions and improve coordination mechanisms. They underlined that think tanks can give more balanced strategic assessments when they work together, helping ensure that policy choices reflect priorities, concerns, and development paths defined by Global South countries themselves.

During one of the dialogue’s sessions, Abdulaziz Ahmed Al Shehhi argued that think tank cooperation should move beyond exchanging concepts and theoretical studies. Al Shehhi said that the current stage makes deeper practical collaboration essential, so that shared challenges can be addressed through integrated research programmes and long-term partnerships rather than short, isolated projects.

Al Shehhi stated that closer links among Global South think tanks support decision-makers by offering analytical and research-based insights. Al Shehhi also underlined the value of technology and artificial intelligence tools for research, policy analysis, and training young researchers, which can help maintain effective intellectual work and institutional capacity over time.

According to Al Shehhi, think tanks across the Global South already hold wide and diverse expertise that can form a powerful knowledge base at regional and international levels. This potential depends on building clear institutional frameworks and joint projects that respond directly to public needs, whether in economic policy, social affairs, or long-term development planning.

Al Shehhi said that TRENDS’ involvement in the Global South Think Tanks Dialogue reflects the UAE institution’s interest in expanding its international reach and research partnerships. TRENDS aims to add to global discussions on development, stability, and future planning through research and specialised analysis, while supporting cooperation among Global South think tanks on shared priorities.

With inputs from WAM