Technology

I think that's the most likely scenario myself. China's whole economy is basically built around being the world's factory, and it's in China's interest to help global south develop because they can export their infrastructure building skills there.

The situation in the west, on the other hand, is likely to be quite different. Western economies are headed for the abyss, and I can't really see how liberal economics can find a way out at this point. If the US suffers a major crash, the rest of western economies will follow, and I can see USSR style collapse unfolding where it will take decades to recover after.