A Decrease font size. A Reset font size. A Increase font size.

Login
Join Network
  • Home
  • /
  • Publications
  • /
  • South-South Ideas: From Trilemma to Triple Wins – Creating Synergies among Chinese Labour-intensive Manufacturers, Global Buyers and Low-wage Southern Countries

South-South Ideas: From Trilemma to Triple Wins – Creating Synergies among Chinese Labour-intensive Manufacturers, Global Buyers and Low-wage Southern Countries

South-South Ideas paper by Wen Chen, Jiajun Xu and Jia Yu, from the Institute of New Structural Economics at Peking University.

Prompted by fast-rising wages, the graduation of China from labour-intensive manufacturing has opened up a golden window of opportunity for the other low-wage Southern countries to kick-start industrialization by attracting Chinese labour-intensive light manufacturing sectors.

This paper aims to diagnose challenges faced by Southern countries to seize the opportunity presented by Chinese industrial transfers to kick-start and speed up their industrialization process. It will then draw on China’s development experiences to propose concrete policy recommendations on how to use special economic zones and triangular cooperation to better seize the opportunity from the perspective of new structural economics.

Download PDF

To successfully take advantage of this window of opportunity, host Southern countries need to resolve the following trilemma: (a) global buyers lack confidence in them to deliver high-quality goods on time; (b) Chinese labour-intensive manufacturers tend to be highly risk-averse when venturing into those uncharted investment destinations; and (c) low-wage Southern countries suffer from inadequate infrastructure and poor business environments. Drawing on the development experiences of China from the perspective of new structural economics, this paper proposes to use the establishment of industrial parks as key leverage to turn the trilemma into triple wins among all the stakeholders and forge triangular cooperation. After reviewing the current state of industrial relocation, promising practical cases and the potential of industrial relocation from China, the paper proposes concrete policy recommendations to help policymakers in partner Southern countries to better seize this great opportunity of industrialization enabled by China’s industrial relocation.

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is difficult to shy away from the damaging impacts that the pandemic is having on the world economy, global value chains and millions of lives around the world. Nonetheless, it is a matter of time before the pandemic will be kept under control and the collective efforts of the global community will help to combat it. The trend of international industrial transfers is irreversible and this crisis may even help to accelerate this process in the post-COVID-19 era, since multinational manufacturers are increasingly looking into diversifying the production bases as a shock absorber. While challenging, dynamic growth and economic structural transformation in Africa may finally be set in motion.

Related Publications

  • All Post
  • News

Connect with UNOSSC

Stay updated with the latest trends in South-South cooperation and access our vast repository of knowledge.

Subscribe to our newsletter
Contact Us
Newsletter Archive
Facebook-f Twitter Linkedin Instagram

Copyright © UNOSSC/UNDP

Register

Registration Form (INDIVIDUAL EXPERT)

Use this form to register as an individual expert and become discoverable for knowledge exchange, advisory services, technical support, mentorship, and South-South and triangular cooperation initiatives.

SECTION A. PERSONAL INFORMATION

First name *
Last Name *
Image
Maximum file size: 1 GB
Country of Residence: *
Current Organization/Institution (if applicable):
Position/Title:
Email *
LinkedIn/Professional Profile (optional):
Short professional biography *
CV
Maximum file size: 1 GB

SECTION B. EXPERTISE PROFILE

SDGs
Specific Expertise / Keywords (max. 10 keywords, separate with , ):
Experience in Regions
Experience in Countries

SECTION C. TYPE OF SUPPORT YOU CAN PROVIDE

I am available to provide: (Select all that apply)

SECTION D. PRO-BONO EXPERT SUPPORT

Would you be willing to provide pro bono support to governments, development organizations, UN entities, academia, civil society organizations, or other stakeholders through the platform?

SECTION E. MODALITIES & AVAILABILITY

Mode of support:
Estimated availability:
Indicative level of effort (optional):
SECTION F. SHORT DESCRIPTION OF SUPPORT OFFER (Max. 500 characters)

SECTION G. CONSENT & CONDITIONS

I would like my profile to be: *
Consent: *
1. Official name of organization / institution / government entity (exclusions to apply) *
Organizational Logo *
Maximum file size: 2 MB
2. Country *
3. Region *
4. SDGs *
5. Partner category *
6. Website *
7. Which is your Parent organization?
8. Indicate which unit/project/department you work in at your organization. *
9.Industry / sector of your organization *
10. Brief description of your institution (max. 150 words) *
11. Name for the Lead *
12. Title for the Lead *
13. Email address for the Lead *
14. Name for the co-lead
15. Title for the co-lead
16. Email address for the co-lead
17. Due Diligence and Integrity Declaration *

Registration Form (INDIVIDUAL EXPERT)

Use this form to register as an individual expert and become discoverable for knowledge exchange, advisory services, technical support, mentorship, and South-South and triangular cooperation initiatives.

SECTION A. PERSONAL INFORMATION

First name *
Last Name *
Image
Maximum file size: 1 GB
Nationality:
Country of Residence: *
Current Organization/Institution (if applicable):
Position/Title:
Email *
LinkedIn/Professional Profile (optional):
Short professional biography *
CV
Maximum file size: 1 GB

SECTION B. EXPERTISE PROFILE

SDGs
Specific Expertise / Keywords (max. 10 keywords, separate with , ):
Experience in Regions
Experience in Countries

SECTION C. TYPE OF SUPPORT YOU CAN PROVIDE

I am available to provide: (Select all that apply)

SECTION E. MODALITIES & AVAILABILITY

Mode of support:
Estimated availability:
Indicative level of effort (optional):
SECTION F. SHORT DESCRIPTION OF SUPPORT OFFER (Max. 500 characters)

SECTION G. CONSENT & CONDITIONS

I would like my profile to be: *
Consent: *
1. Official name of organization / institution / government entity (exclusions to apply) *
Organization logo
Maximum file size: 20 MB
2. Country *
3. Region *
4. SDG *
5. Partner category *
6. Website *
7. Brief description of your institution (max. 150 words) *
8. Name for the Lead *
9. Title for the Lead *
10. Email address for the Lead *
11. Name for the co-lead
12. Title for the co-lead
13. Email address for the co-lead
14. Expression of Interest in the Alliance *
Additional information on proposed areas of engagement may be requested through the platform following initial review by the Alliance Secretariat.
15. Due Diligence and Integrity Declaration *

Submission Note:

  • Submission of this Expression of Interest form does not automatically confer participation in the Alliance.
  • All submissions will be reviewed by the Alliance Secretariat, including basic eligibility screening and proportionate due diligence, as appropriate.
  • Participation in Alliance activities is determined based on relevance to articulated cooperation needs, alignment with Alliance principles, and integrity considerations.
  • Engagement under the Alliance is voluntary, non-binding, and facilitative in nature, and does not constitute funding approval, contractual commitment, or institutional membership.
  • The Alliance Secretariat may contact submitting entities for additional information or clarification during the review process.

Submission of Demand Form

Description of Demand

Indicate the type of support or cooperation requested through the Alliance.
Please briefly describe the challenge, gap, or priority. (Max. 300 words)

Thematic and Geographic Focus

Please indicate the main focus areas of your demand:

A. Thematic Areas (select up to three)
B. Geographic Focus (select all that apply)

Proposed Engagement Modalities

Please indicate how you would like to engage through the Alliance (select all that apply):

Expected Outcomes

Please indicate the main results you seek to achieve through this engagement. (Max. 200 words)
Examples:
• Capacity strengthened
• Partnerships established
• Sectoral or regional strategies co-developed
• Solutions piloted
• Knowledge generated
• Policies informed

Timeline and Readiness (if applicable)

1. Expected timeframe for engagement:
2. Current stage:

Additional Information

Please provide any additional information, documents, or links relevant to this submission.
(Max. 200 words or upload link)

Submission of Offer Form

Description of Contribution

Indicate the type of contribution your institution can provide and describe the expertise, resources, or solutions you may offer.
Please briefly describe your proposed contribution. (Max. 300 words)

Thematic and Geographic Focus

Please indicate the main focus areas of your interest:

A. Thematic Areas (select up to three)
B. Geographic Focus (select all that apply)

Proposed Engagement Modalities

Please indicate how you would like to engage through the Alliance (select all that apply):

Expected Outcomes

Please indicate the main results you aim to achieve through this engagement. (Max. 200 words)
Examples:
• Capacity strengthened
• Partnerships established
• Sectoral or regional strategies co-developed
• Solutions piloted
• Knowledge generated
• Policies informed

Timeline and Readiness (if applicable)

1. Expected timeframe for engagement:
2. Current stage:

Additional Information

Please provide any additional information, documents, or links relevant to this submission.
(Max. 200 words or upload link)

Organization Registration

Authentication & Due Diligence This prototype simulates identity verification, due diligence confirmation, and an authentication step before submission. *
First Name *
Last Name *
Email address *
Password *
Confirm Password *
Name of institution / organization *
Country / Region *
Organization Type *
Organization other *
Function / role *
Organization logo *
Maximum file size: 1 GB

Login

Login / email *
Password *
Remember me

Forgot password?

Connect form

Your name *
Email *
Organization / institution *
Job title / role *
Reason for connecting:
Short message

Add Knowledge Product

A. Publication Basics (Mandatory)

Exact Title of the Publication *
Featured image *
Maximum file size: 2 MB
Executive Summary *
Publication Available Online *
Direct Link to Publication

B. Publication Details

Subtitle
Publication Type *
Year of Publication *
Authors / Editors
Key Messages

C. Organizations

Partner Organizations

D. Discoverability (Optional)

Keywords *
SDGs *
Geographic Coverage *
Countries *

Add Good Practice

My form is: *

SECTION 1. BASIC INFORMATION

Title of the Good Practice *
A South-South cooperation good practice is a documented experience, approach, methodology or initiative that has produced positive results, generated useful lessons, and demonstrated relevance for other countries or institutions facing similar development challenges. A good practice should be credible, evidence-based, contextually explained, and useful for learning, policy dialogue, adaptation or scaling.
Name of the Solution(s) *
A South-South cooperation solution is a concrete, tested or implementable policy, programme, technology, institutional model, service, financing mechanism, methodology or partnership approach developed or applied by countries and institutions of the Global South, which responds to a clearly identified development challenge and has potential to be adapted, replicated or scaled in other contexts through South-South or triangular cooperation.
Short Summary *
max. 60 words
Lead Implementing Institution *
Partner Institutions *
Countries / Territories Involved *
Regions Involved *
Type of Cooperation *

SECTION 2. DEVELOPMENT CONTEXT & SDG ALIGNMENT

Primary SDG(s) Addressed *
SDG Target(s) *
Secondary SDGs (if applicable)
Development Challenge Addressed *
100–150 words

SECTION 3. DESCRIPTION OF THE GOOD PRACTICE & SOLUTION

Objectives of the Good Practice / Solution *
max. 100 words
Description of the Solution(s) *
max. 300 words
Innovation Dimension *
max. 150 words

SECTION 4. SOUTH-SOUTH & TRIANGULAR COOPERATION VALUE

South-South Knowledge Exchange *
max. 200 words
Role of Triangular Partners (if applicable)

SECTION 5. PARTICIPATION & GOVERNANCE

Were participatory approaches used in the design and implementation of the solution? If yes, describe the stakeholders involved (e.g., beneficiaries, communities, civil society, private sector, government agencies) *
max. 150 words
What governance and institutional arrangements supported the implementation of this solution? Please describe the roles and responsibilities of key institutions and any collaboration with government entities, development partners, civil society, academia, or the private sector *

SECTION 6. PRODUCED IMPACT (Partner-Validated)

Description of Produced Impact *
max. 250 words
Quantitative Results *
Please provide measurable results achieved through the solution.
Quantitative Results
Please provide measurable results achieved through the solution.
Qualitative Results *
Please describe the most significant qualitative changes resulting from the solution.
Qualitative Results
Please describe the most significant qualitative changes resulting from the solution.

Timeframe of Impact

Timeframe of Impact of the solution: *

SECTION 7. SUSTAINABILITY & SCALABILITY

7.1 What measures have been taken to ensure the sustainability of the good practice beyond the project or intervention period? *
Please describe institutional, financial, policy, technical, community ownership, or capacity-building measures that support long-term sustainability. (max. 150 words)
7.2 Is the solution replicable and adaptable in other contexts? *
Please explain whether the solution can be adapted or replicated in different countries, regions, sectors, communities, or development settings. Highlight any enabling conditions or prerequisites. (max. 150 words)

SECTION 8. RISKS & LESSONS LEARNED

Key Risks and Mitigation Measures
max. 100 words
Lessons Learned *
max. 150 words

SECTION 9. RESOURCES & EVIDENCE

Supporting Materials *
Maximum file size: 1 GB
manuals, toolkits, evaluations, media
URL of the Good Practice / Solution *
Please provide URLs to publicly available resources that demonstrate, validate, or document the good practice. Examples include: Project or programme website/microsite, published evaluation report, case study, knowledge product, policy document, news article or media coverage, technical report, blog or publication etc.
URL of the Solution *
Please provide URLs to publicly available resources that demonstrate, validate, or document the solution. Examples include: Project or programme website/microsite, published evaluation report, case study, knowledge product, policy document, news article or media coverage, technical report, blog or publication etc.
Additional URLs (optional)

SECTION 10. CONTACT INFORMATION & VALIDATION

Focal Point – Partner Institution (Impact Validation)

Name *
Title *
Organization *
Email *
Declaration *

Scroll to Top