On the sidelines of the 2026 Global South Academic Forum in Shanghai, I held discussions with the forum’s organising committee, led by Prof. Lu Xinyu, Chair of the Global South Academic Forum, about China’s experience in rural revitalisation, poverty reduction, and community development. Prof. Lu highlighted how targeted interventions have helped transform previously deprived communities. These included local governance reforms, efforts to revitalise fisheries and aquaculture, community sporting initiatives, and modern infrastructure to expand economic opportunities. I was particularly interested in how these interventions were shaped by the realities of individual communities, drew on research, and were strengthened through deliberate government action. They show that development does not always require identical solutions, but that every community has resources, knowledge, and opportunities it can harness. I thank Prof. Lu for sharing these experiences. I also appreciate the emphasis on leadership that remains connected to communities and ensures that public interventions respond directly to their needs. The value of South-South cooperation lies in learning from one another’s experiences, adapting successful approaches to our own circumstances, and developing solutions that improve the lives of our people.