The Group of 20 was meant to be the world's economic fire brigade. Forged amid the economic crisis of the late 1990s, it gathered leaders from the richest nations and the fastest-growing ones to coordinate responses and avert disaster.

For a while, it worked. Summits in London and Pittsburgh, both in 2009 amid the global financial crisis that began in 2008, produced stimulus packages and regulatory reforms that stabilized markets. But that was then. Today, the G20 feels more strained, with some developed countries initiating trade measures and technology bans against others, and territorial spats.

For the Johannesburg summit late last month, the first ever on African soil, Premier Li Qiang showed up with practical proposals on trade, debt and development, reminding everyone why the forum still matters, especially for the Global South.

The theme of the summit, "Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability", was no mere slogan. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa used the presidency to spotlight Africa's struggles: crippling debt loads, climate shocks that hit hardest where emissions have been lowest, and a digital divide that leaves billions offline. As developing countries make up 85 percent of the world's population but get just a fraction of global investment, the agenda called for reforms to bridge that gap, from overhauling the World Bank's voting shares to easing trade barriers.

Yet without buy-in from the big players, it risked becoming another talk shop.

Premier Li, in his opening address, invoked President Xi Jinping's words from years past: Solidarity builds strength, division leads to dead ends. Li linked this message to President Xi's broader vision of building a community of a shared future for humanity, underscoring that China's approach is rooted in win-win cooperation rather than zero-sum rivalry.

Unilateral barriers have disrupted global supply chains, raising costs for consumers everywhere. At the summit, Li pledged to speed up zero-tariff access for goods from least-developed countries, a move that could unlock billions of dollars in trade for nations like Zambia and Nigeria.

Li also backed South Africa's push for debt relief, announcing an action plan to roll out the G20's industrialization initiative for Africa. This includes joint ventures with Pretoria to modernize infrastructure, from solar grids to high-speed rail. And in a nod to the future, China committed to launching the Global Development Institute, a hub for sharing expertise on everything from artificial intelligence ethics to green technology.

Leaders from India, Brazil and the European Union praised these ideas in side sessions, seeing them as useful contributions for emerging economies.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived with his "One Earth, One Family, One Future "vision, aligning closely with China's calls for inclusive growth. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva pushed debt restructuring, drawing on G20 tools that China helped pioneer in 2009.

What makes China's role stand out is its track record. Over the past decade, Beijing has poured more than a trillion dollars into the Belt and Road Initiative, linking around 150 countries with roads, ports and power plants.

Rather than dwelling on debates, the focus is on results: The initiative has delivered tangible benefits, lighting homes, powering industries and connecting communities across Africa and beyond.

In Africa, Chinese loans have funded projects that Western banks generally deemed unworthy, like the massive hydropower dams in Ethiopia that now light up entire regions. Trade between China and Africa has surged 50 percent since 2020, helping nations weather inflation spikes.

By the summit's close on Nov 23, a draft declaration was released, reaffirming the World Trade Organization as the trade system's core and committing to reforms that amplify developing voices. It was not perfect consensus, but it was progress, produced through steady engagement rather than confrontation. This Johannesburg moment reveals a shifting global environment. The traditional major economies seem less committed to multilateral forums, focusing instead on narrower policy arrangements. Emerging powers, anchored by China, see the G20 differently: as a platform to level the playing field.

Beijing's approach, which focuses on consultation and practical cooperation, echoes its domestic experience. In four decades, China pulled more than 800 million people out of extreme poverty, slashing the global rate by three-quarters. Exporting that model through South-South partnerships could transform lives from Lagos to Lima.

As the G20 presidency has passed to the United States, the real test will be follow-through. Will Washington reengage, or allow the fractures to widen?

The G20 endures because alternatives are worse. A splintered world means slower growth, hotter conflicts and deeper divides.

China's presence in Johannesburg offered more than symbolism: It provided commitments that anchor stability and growth. For Africa and the Global South, it meant real progress on debt and development. For the rest of the world, it was a reminder that sidelining the forum carries risks.

The summit may have started with some empty seats, but it ended with a blueprint for moving forward, and China is making sure that this blueprint will not gather dust.

The author is a geostrategist and political analyst based in Karachi, Pakistan.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.