Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy Research Center: Global Governance Initiatives Lead Global Governance to Evolve with the Times
On September 1 of this year, President Xi Jinping solemnly proposed the Global Governance Initiative at the "Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus" (SCO+) meeting. Its core concepts are: upholding sovereign equality, observing the international rule of law, practicing multilateralism, advocating a people-centered approach, and emphasizing action-orientation. This is another major global initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping, following the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI), and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI). It further contributes Chinese wisdom and provides Chinese solutions [1] for the reform and improvement of global governance. The Global Governance Initiative represents a significant innovative development of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, highlighting President Xi’s visionary insight and his concern for the world. We must deeply grasp and interpret the great theoretical value and practical significance of the Global Governance Initiative through the lenses of historical, theoretical, and practical logic, continuously building a broad consensus for its implementation to better facilitate its grounding and execution.
From the perspective of historical logic, the Global Governance Initiative is a requirement of the times for human development and progress.
In his important speech at the "SCO+" meeting, President Xi Jinping pointed out: "The trend of the times toward peace, development, cooperation, and win-win results has not changed. However, the shadows of Cold War mentality, hegemonism, and protectionism persist; new threats and challenges are mounting; the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation; and global governance has reached a new crossroads." Looking across history, the global governance system has undergone a long process of evolution. It has not always been a smooth journey, but rather one of advancing through twists and turns, gradually developing and improving as it meets challenges. From the signing of the Peace of Westphalia to the establishment of the League of Nations after World War I, and then to the founding of the United Nations (UN) by drawing profound lessons from World War II, a multilateral cooperation platform was built for all countries to handle international affairs through dialogue and consultation. This led to the establishment of the international system with the UN at its core, the international order based on international law, and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. With this, global governance turned over a brand-new leaf. The new global governance system made a historic contribution to maintaining postwar world peace and development.
As the saying goes, "Laws must change with the times to ensure good governance; governance must suit the world's conditions to achieve success" [2]. The global governance system must also be rooted in realistic needs and continuously advance with the times. On one hand, with the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the bipolar structure, the processes of world multipolarity and the democratization of international relations have accelerated. The grand trend of economic globalization is irreversible; the interconnections and interdependencies between countries have deepened; and humanity has increasingly become a community with a shared future where "you are in me and I am in you" [3]. On the other hand, the problems facing the international community have become more complex. Geopolitical conflicts and "hotspot" issues are intertwined; new problems such as terrorism, refugee crises, transnational crime, and major infectious diseases are emerging one after another. The cause of human peace and development faces severe challenges, and no country can remain unaffected in isolation. The times demand that we reform and improve the global governance system on the basis of extensive consultation and the building of consensus, ensuring it keeps pace with the times to strengthen global governance and respond more effectively to today's global challenges.
The existing global governance system has obvious shortcomings. First, its representation is seriously insufficient. A small number of countries have long hindered the reform process of the UN and its agencies to maintain their own hegemony and private interests. This has caused reforms—such as the World Bank shareholding review and the adjustment of International Monetary Fund (IMF) quota shares—to lag seriously behind. The representation and voice of the vast number of developing countries are not fully reflected in the global governance system. Second, its authority has been eroded. The purposes and principles of the UN Charter have not been effectively observed. Certain major powers have even broken treaties and "withdrawn from groups" [4], withheld funding and cut off supplies, obstructed the passage of Security Council resolutions, and bypassed the global governance system to pursue hegemony and unilateralism. Third, its effectiveness urgently needs improvement. The UN's operational efficiency, emergency response capabilities, and work transparency need to be enhanced. Some countries have failed to fulfill their international responsibilities and obligations, leading to a long-standing situation where multilateral institutions "discuss without deciding" or "decide without acting."
President Xi Jinping’s proposal of the Global Governance Initiative is timely, provides direction, and demonstrates responsibility. Currently, the world’s once-in-a-century changes [5] are accelerating; emerging markets and developing countries are rising as a group; and the international balance of power is undergoing revolutionary changes. The forces of the "Global South" seeking peace, development, and cooperation are growing stronger. It is becoming unsustainable for a small number of countries to monopolize international affairs. The urgency of improving global governance and enhancing the voice of the Global South is constantly rising. In this context, what kind of global governance system should be built, and how should it be reformed and improved to adapt to the changes in the world landscape and the requirements of the development of the times? This is the question of the era that the development of the global governance system must answer. On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the UN, humanity once again faces a choice between peace or war, dialogue or confrontation, and win-win or zero-sum results. Responding to the universal aspirations of the people of all countries, President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Governance Initiative, systematically answering the propositions of "who governs, how to govern, and for whom to govern" in global governance. This proposal demonstrates profound reflection that bridges history, reality, and the future. It is extremely timely and critical, injecting powerful ideological momentum into the movement toward a more just and equitable global governance system.
From the perspective of theoretical logic, the Global Governance Initiative is an innovative development of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy.
In his important speech at the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO Member States, President Xi Jinping pointed out: "We advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and promote the building of a more just and equitable global governance system." The Global Governance Initiative is another important public product contributed to the world by Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy. It is a visionary Chinese solution proposed by President Xi with a focus on better responding to global challenges and based on a profound analysis of the current international situation. Together with the GDI, GSI, and GCI, it constitutes the action system for promoting the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, making a new Chinese contribution to human development and progress.
Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to global governance. President Xi has deeply explained Chinese solutions for global governance on numerous diplomatic occasions, proposing a series of new concepts, new ideas, and new strategies. Standing at the heights of world history, President Xi has grasped the general direction of human progress, the grand logic of world history’s progress through twists and turns, the general trend of the international community sharing a common destiny, and the great impetus of exchange and mutual learning between civilizations. He has scientifically examined the major challenges facing world development today and creatively proposed and elaborated on the "Global Governance View of Extensive Consultation, Joint Contribution, and Shared Benefits." He advocates that the destiny of the world should be jointly held by all countries, international rules should be jointly written by all countries, global affairs should be jointly governed by all countries, and development achievements should be jointly shared by all countries. This clarifies the basic principles for the transformation of the global governance system.
He creatively proposed the noble goal of working with people of all countries to build a community with a shared future for humanity, building—together with all nations—a world of lasting peace, universal security, common prosperity, openness and inclusiveness, and cleanliness and beauty, establishing a glorious banner to lead the direction of human progress. He creatively proposed adhering to "true multilateralism," asserting that the world needs justice, not hegemony, and promoting equality of rights, opportunities, and rules for all countries, thereby expanding effective paths for promoting peace and development amidst the great changes of the world. He creatively proposed the GDI, GSI, and GCI, drawing the largest possible "concentric circle" for common development, seeking the "greatest common divisor" for universal security, and flourishing the "garden of civilizations," opening up a vast space for all countries to jointly seek development, build security, and promote civilization. He creatively proposed upholding the common values of humanity—peace, development, equity, justice, democracy, and freedom—systematically elaborating views on development, security, cooperation, civilization, and global governance that conform to the trend of the times. This has provided China with a value-based guide for grasping the major issues of today's world and responding to complex global challenges. The Global Governance Initiative is the latest and most comprehensive achievement of a series of theoretical and practical innovations regarding Chinese solutions for global governance within Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy. With a lofty strategic vision, clear theoretical lineage, and rigorous logic, it profoundly explains the principles, methods, and paths that must be followed to reform and improve global governance, possessing significant theoretical value.
The Global Governance Initiative contains rich theoretical connotations and exhibits distinct systematic characteristics. Its core concepts are: upholding sovereign equality, observing the international rule of law, practicing multilateralism, advocating a people-centered approach, and emphasizing action-orientation. These five core concepts are filled with profound insights, highlight a problem-oriented approach, reflect a systems perspective, and emphasize treating both symptoms and root causes. They form a scientific system with complete content, a clear structure, and rigorous logic. Among them, sovereign equality is the primary prerequisite for global governance. All countries, regardless of size, strength, or wealth, have the right to independently choose their social systems and development paths, and enjoy the right to equal participation, equal decision-making, and equal benefits in global governance. The international rule of law is the fundamental guarantee for global governance. The purposes and principles of the UN Charter are the recognized basic norms of international relations. International law and international rules must be applied equally and uniformly, and the authority and seriousness of international law must be resolutely maintained. Major powers, in particular, should take the lead as advocates and defenders of the international rule of law. Multilateralism is the basic path for global governance. Global governance is everyone's business, and the core concept of the current international system and order is multilateralism. By practicing true multilateralism and adhering to extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, the common problems facing humanity will be better solved. Global and regional multilateral mechanisms should hinge on their own advantages, play constructive roles, and avoid any discriminatory or exclusive arrangements. A people-centered approach is the value orientation of global governance. In the final analysis, global governance is about turning the aspirations of people of all countries for a better life into reality, jointly building a world where everyone enjoys prosperity and well-being, and continuously enhancing the sense of gain, happiness, and security of people in all countries. Action-orientation is an important principle of global governance. Global governance ultimately depends on results. Practice must be the source of vitality for global governance, and pragmatic actions must be taken to promote the solution of practical problems of concern to all countries. These five core concepts are closely linked and interconnected, forming an organic and unified whole.
From the perspective of practical logic, the Global Governance Initiative will promote the deepening and expansion of the reform of the global governance system.
In his important speech at the "SCO+" meeting, President Xi Jinping pointed out: "History tells us that the more difficult the moment, the more we must uphold our original aspiration of peaceful coexistence, strengthen our confidence in win-win cooperation, and persist in advancing within the logic of historical progress and developing within the trend of the times." Although the international situation is volatile and characterized by ups and downs—and the changes in the world, the times, and history are unfolding in unprecedented ways—no hardships or twists can stop the wheel of history from moving forward. We must see clearly that peace and development are the common aspirations of people in all countries; they are where the people's hearts lean and where the general trend leads. In the New Era, China has firmly acted as a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, a defender of the international order, and a provider of public goods, actively participating in the reform and construction of the global governance system to make it more inclusive and representative. The proposal of the Global Governance Initiative is a further deepening of the reform of the global governance system. It both conforms to the trend of the times toward peace, development, cooperation, and win-win results, and makes this trend even more irresistible.
It encapsulates the valuable experience of the reform of the global governance system. General Secretary Xi Jinping noted: "With the shifts in the international balance of power and the increasing number of global challenges, strengthening global governance and promoting the reform of the system is the trend of the times." New China's pursuit of a just and equitable international order has been consistent. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has grasped historical laws, enhanced historical initiative, and shouldered the historical responsibility of seeking progress for humanity and the "Great Harmony" [6] for the world. It has made promoting the reform of the global governance system an important part of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the New Era, carrying out a series of tasks and measures that have had a broad impact worldwide. We have promoted a more balanced and effective global governance architecture. While maintaining the authority of the UN and practicing true multilateralism, we support the UN in advancing with the times and reforming to adapt to the new realities of international political and economic development. We have promoted the rule of law in international relations, urging all countries to observe international law and recognized basic norms, using uniformly applicable rules of international law to distinguish right from wrong, promote peace, and seek development. We have deepened international cooperation in many fields such as peacekeeping, counter-terrorism, climate change, and economic and trade cooperation, helping countries effectively fulfill their international responsibilities and enhancing the effectiveness of global governance. Bearing in mind the improvement of the common well-being of humanity, we ensure that the reform of the global governance system effectively benefits the people of all countries and better protects their equal right to development. The five core concepts of the Global Governance Initiative encapsulate the valuable experience of the reform of the global governance system and are a vivid reflection of the practical logic of this reform. They better address the current problems and challenges facing global governance and will surely demonstrate increasingly significant value for the times.
Expand the breadth and depth of the reform of the global governance system. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: "The global governance system is at a critical period of adjustment and reform. We must actively participate in the formulation of international rules and act as participants, promoters, and leaders in the process of global governance reform." Through the long-term joint efforts of China and countries throughout the world, the current global governance system is accelerating its reform. New progress and results have been achieved in areas such as the governance of emerging fields like artificial intelligence and cyberspace, the promotion of global prosperity and development, the advancement of the cause of international peace, and the enhancement of the representation and voice of the Global South [7]. However, the problem of governance lag remains prominent in many fields. President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Governance Initiative [8] in response to the appeals of the United Nations and the aspirations of all nations; it aims to work with all responsible countries in the world to improve global governance through reform, making it adapt to the requirements of the New Era, better suit changing circumstances, and more effectively promote world peace and development. The five core concepts of the Global Governance Initiative [9] are in the same lineage as the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. They both align with the international community's increasing calls for the reform of the global governance system and represent an extension and expansion of the practical logic of that reform. These five core concepts enrich the methods and pathways for reforming and improving the global governance system and provide a systematic solution to the problem of structural imbalance within that system. This is conducive to pushing the reform of the global governance system toward greater depth, further optimizing the organizational structure of global governance, consolidating its rule-of-law foundation, enhancing its governance efficacy, and expanding the sharing of its results. Furthermore, it is conducive to coalescing the strength of all parties and mobilizing all resources, allowing the propositions regarding the reform of the global governance system to be transformed into a common consensus and concerted action. This will inevitably push the reform of the global governance system into a new stage.
"Where virtue resides, the world gravitates toward it; where righteousness dwells, the world flocks to it" [10]. At every critical historical juncture in the development of human society, clear directional guidance is required. The Global Governance Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping will surely illuminate the path forward for the international community to emerge from the predicament of our times, eliminate the governance deficit, and achieve common prosperity. As a responsible major power with a sense of mission, China will take practical actions to join hands with the international community to practice the Global Governance Initiative. Together, we will act as maintainers of world peace, companions in development and revitalization, and defenders of international fairness and justice, pushing humanity toward an even brighter future.
(Drafted by: Wu Xiaodan and Wang Wenqi) Source: People's Daily (September 26, 2025, Page 09) Web Editor: Hui Hui