What China seeks to achieve with the Global Governance Initiative

Eighty years ago, the people of the world won a great victory in the war against fascism. In its wake, the United Nations was born, to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind”, opening a new chapter in global governance. Today, though the historical trends of peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit remain unchanged, a Cold War mentality, hegemonism and protectionism continue to haunt the world. With new threats and challenges emerging, global governance is at a crossroads. Its current mechanisms suffer from three major deficits. First, serious underrepresentation of the Global South. The rise of emerging markets and developing countries necessitates boosting their representation and redressing historical injustice. Second, erosion of authoritativeness. The UN Charter has not been effectively observed. Unilateral sanctions have violated international law and disrupted the international order. Third, urgent need for greater effectiveness. The implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is seriously lagging. Issues such as climate change and the digital divide are becoming more salient. Gaps exist in governance for new frontiers such as artificial intelligence, cyberspace and outer space. At this critical juncture, President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) while chairing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Plus meeting on September 1. The GGI is the fourth landmark initiative proposed by China, following the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilisation Initiative. It not only enriches Chinese diplomacy but also provides an impetus for building a community with a shared future for humanity. Rooted in China’s traditional culture, the five core concepts of the GGI offer distinctive Chinese wisdom for improving global governance. First, adhering to sovereign equality. The GGI embodies the philosophy of “harmony in diversity”. It upholds the principle that all countries, regardless of their size, strength and wealth, are equal. They all have the right to independently choose their social systems and development paths, and to equally participate in decision-making and benefit from and contribute to global governance. Through Brics Plus and SCO Plus, China has been promoting solidarity and cooperation among the Global South. The aim is to build a more balanced and effective architecture for global governance. Second, abiding by the international rule of law. The GGI draws from the traditional wisdom of “adherence to the rule of law” and emphasises the commitment to safeguarding the authority and sanctity of international law. It calls for international law and rules to be applied equally, as opposed to double standards or the replacement of international rules under the UN framework with the house rules of a few countries. China upholds the fundamental norms of international relations and will continue to be a defender of and contributor to the international rule of law. Third, practising multilateralism. The GGI promotes the spirit of mutual understanding – “Do not do unto others what you would not have others do unto you” – and advocates extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits in global affairs. In today’s highly interconnected world, no country can stay unaffected by global challenges. It is more important than ever to leverage multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations to pool resources, coordinate actions and forge synergy in addressing new threats. China practises multilateralism. We have joined almost all universal intergovernmental organisations. We also support the central role of the UN in international affairs, in contrast to a few countries that wilfully abandon treaties, withdraw from international organisations and withhold contributions. Fourth, advocating a people-centred approach. The GGI reflects a people-centred philosophy of governance. It emphasises that people of all nations are the fundamental participants and beneficiaries of global governance. Only by prioritising the well-being of the people can the global governance system gain widespread support. At the SCO Plus meeting, President Xi also announced that China will provide treatment for 500 congenital heart disease patients, perform 5,000 cataract surgeries and conduct 10,000 cancer screenings for citizens of other SCO countries over the next five years. These measures directly benefit ordinary people and exemplify the principle of “putting people first”. Fifth, focusing on taking real actions. The GGI embodies the pragmatic spirit of “applying wisdom to real-world challenges”. It stresses that the effectiveness of global governance must be measured by the real problems it solves. China is the largest troop-contributing country among the permanent members of the UN Security Council to peacekeeping operations and actively provides public goods in emerging fields such as climate change, AI and cyberspace. Actions speak louder than words. The GGI does not seek to overturn the existing international order or create an alternative system outside the current one. Rather, it aims to enhance the effectiveness of the existing international mechanisms, enabling them to respond more promptly and efficiently to global challenges and better serve the interests of all countries, especially developing nations. No matter the changes ahead, China remains committed to upholding the international system centred on the UN, the global order based on international law, and the basic norms of international relations founded on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. By following the trends of history and taking the right path, one can reach high and go far. China stands ready to strengthen coordination and communication with the UN and all other parties to jointly act on the GGI, promote a more just and equitable global governance system, and create a community with a shared future for humanity.

What China seeks to achieve with the Global Governance Initiative

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The initiative does not seek to create an alternative system. Rather, it aims to strengthen the mechanisms of the current global order

The initiative does not seek to create an alternative system. Rather, it aims to strengthen the mechanisms of the current global order