Li Jingping and Li Yonglai: The Internal Connections and Global Significance of the Four Great Global Initiatives
Currently, the accelerating evolution of changes unseen in a century [1] is intertwined with overlapping global challenges, leaving humanity standing at a crossroads of history. On one hand, "the global peace deficit, development deficit, security deficit, and governance deficit continue to increase," while "the haze of Cold War mentality, hegemonism, and protectionism remains persistent." Traditional and non-traditional security threats are interwoven, and the problems of unbalanced and inadequate global development have become increasingly prominent. On the other hand, the existing global governance system—burdened by structural flaws such as insufficient representation, lagging rules, and weak action—finds it difficult to respond effectively to the common aspirations of the international community. The momentous question of our times, "What is wrong with the world, and what should we do?" profoundly tests the wisdom and responsibility of all nations. Against this backdrop, China, grounded in its own developmental reality and the common interests of humanity, has successively proposed the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI), the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), and the Global Governance Initiative (GGI). These four global initiatives are not isolated conceptual declarations; rather, they are rooted in the Marxist worldview and methodology as well as fine traditional Chinese culture [2]. They represent systematic theoretical and practical innovations that respond to the questions of the world and the times, providing a holistic solution for restructuring the global governance landscape and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.
I. The Theoretical Core and Practical Approaches of the Four Global Initiatives
The four global initiatives focus respectively on four core dimensions of the development and progress of human society, forming a logically rigorous conceptual framework and a feasible plan of action. Among them, development is the material foundation for achieving common prosperity; security is the prerequisite for ensuring stable development; civilization is the spiritual bond for coalescing international consensus; and governance is the regulatory support for enhancing the efficacy of cooperation. The four complement each other in an organic unity, collectively serving the overall goal of building a community with a shared future for humanity.
(1) The Global Development Initiative: Consolidating the Material Foundation of Common Prosperity through Benefit-for-All and Inclusivity
The Global Development Initiative directly addresses the crux of unbalanced global development and insufficient momentum, repositioning the issue of development at the heart of the international agenda. Its theoretical core is centrally embodied in the commitments to: staying committed to development as a priority, staying committed to a people-centered approach, staying committed to benefits for all, staying committed to innovation-driven development, staying committed to harmony between human and nature, and staying committed to results-oriented actions. This initiative profoundly grasps the essential law that "development is the master key to solving all problems." It emphasizes that we must "place development at the prominent position of the global macro-policy framework... build a more equal and balanced global development partnership, promote synergy and efficiency in the multilateral development cooperation process, and accelerate the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development."
On the practical level, the implementation of the GDI has gradually formed a three-dimensional advancement path characterized by breakthroughs in key areas, precise mobilization of resources, and the improvement of cooperation mechanisms. In key areas of cooperation, China has clearly identified "poverty reduction, food security, pandemic response and vaccines, development financing, climate change and green development, industrialization, digital economy, and connectivity" as priority directions. This precisely aligns with the core needs of developing countries and strives to resolve the structural imbalances in global development. Regarding resource guarantees, China has integrated development funds through multiple channels, focusing on supporting developing countries to improve people's livelihoods and enhance their capacity for self-determined development, thereby driving the transformation of development models from "blood-transfusion" style aid to "blood-generating" [3] style cooperation. In terms of mechanism building, as of August 2025, the "Group of Friends of the GDI" initiated by China has brought together more than 80 countries, constructing an important multilateral platform for coalescing international consensus and coordinating development policies. According to statistics, as of September 2025, there are more than 1,800 projects in the Global Development Project Pool. These have not only effectively improved the livelihoods of people in partner countries but have also injected lasting momentum into regional economic development, becoming an important driving force for global development cooperation.
(2) The Global Security Initiative: Constructing a Guarantee System for Universal Security through Common Security
The Global Security Initiative takes the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security as its theoretical cornerstone, systematically responding to the era-defining question of "what kind of security concept the world needs and how countries can achieve common security." The initiative profoundly elaborates on the core essence that "security is the prerequisite for development, and humanity is an indivisible security community." It proposes the "Six Commitments" [4] as practical guidelines: staying committed to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, and jointly maintaining world peace and security; staying committed to respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, non-interference in internal affairs, and respecting the development paths and social systems independently chosen by the people of different countries; staying committed to abiding by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, abandoning the Cold War mentality, opposing unilateralism, and saying no to group politics and bloc confrontation; staying committed to taking the legitimate security concerns of all countries seriously, upholding the principle of indivisible security, building a balanced, effective, and sustainable security architecture, and opposing the pursuit of one's own security at the cost of others’ security; staying committed to peacefully resolving differences and disputes between countries through dialogue and consultation, supporting all efforts conducive to the peaceful settlement of crises, refraining from double standards, and opposing the abuse of unilateral sanctions and "long-arm jurisdiction" [5]; staying committed to maintaining security in both traditional and non-traditional domains, and working together on regional disputes and global challenges such as terrorism, climate change, cybersecurity, and biosecurity. The new security concept contained in the GSI breaks through the cognitive shackles of zero-sum games and absolute security found in traditional Western security thinking, and is dedicated to building a balanced, effective, and sustainable global security architecture.
In practice, the GSI exerts force through multiple synergistic paths: mediating hotspot issues, promoting non-traditional security cooperation, and constructing security mechanisms. Regarding the resolution of hotspot issues, China successfully facilitated the historic reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, actively carried out mediation to promote talks during the Ukraine crisis, issued the "Six-Point Consensus" jointly with Brazil, and initiated the "Friends of Peace" group together with "Global South" countries. This fully demonstrates the responsibility of a major country in constructively participating in global security governance. In the field of non-traditional security, China has deepened counter-terrorism cooperation with Central Asian countries, supported the establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) anti-drug center in Dushanbe, strengthened coordination with the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Center for combating illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs (CARICC), and increased efforts in drug seizure and the fight against transnational crime. Regarding security mechanism building, as of September 2025, the GSI has gained the support of more than 130 countries and international organizations, has been explicitly written into over 140 bilateral and multilateral documents, and has been evaluated as an "action roadmap for maintaining common security," providing a brand-new approach to breaking the global security dilemma.
(3) The Global文明Initiative: Coalescing Value Consensus through the Spiritual Bond of Civilizational Exchange and Mutual Learning
The Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) clearly advocates for respecting the diversity of world civilizations, proposing that civilizational exchange should transcend civilizational estrangement, mutual learning should transcend civilizational conflict, and civilizational inclusiveness should transcend civilizational superiority. To this end, the initiative proposes "Four Joint Devotions": jointly advocating for respect for the diversity of world civilizations, jointly advocating for the common values of humanity, jointly advocating for the importance of inheritance and innovation of civilizations, and jointly advocating for robust international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation. The initiative profoundly points out: "As the futures of all countries are closely linked today, the inclusive coexistence, exchange, and mutual learning of different civilizations play an irreplaceable role in advancing the modernization process of human society and flourishing the garden of world civilizations."
On the practical level, the GCI promotes the transformation of concepts into actual results through diverse paths such as building high-end dialogue platforms, improving cooperation mechanisms, and facilitating project implementation. Regarding high-level engagement, China has successfully hosted the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations and the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-level Meeting, building normalized dialogue platforms for civilizational exchange. In the field of education, as of 2024, China has carried out extensive educational cooperation and exchange with 183 countries with which it has diplomatic relations and has signed agreements on mutual recognition of academic degrees and certificates with 61 countries and regions. This has effectively promoted the transnational sharing of educational resources and facilitated the dissemination of knowledge and the fusion of ideas among different civilizations. At the level of people-to-people exchange, as of November 2024, "China has established 3,054 pairs of sister-city (province/state) relations with 147 countries, building a network of international friends and partners spanning five continents." The expansion of engagement and cooperation will undoubtedly promote civilizational exchange and mutual learning. According to the "Blue Book of Global Public Opinion Survey on 'Our Concept of Civilization'," "The GCI has gained high recognition among respondents, with 90.8% agreeing that 'respecting diversity is a basic principle the international community should follow,' and 91.8% agreeing that 'relations between different cultures should mainly be about cooperation rather than confrontation.' Core concepts such as civilizational diversity, equal dialogue, and win-win cooperation have become a universal consensus in the international community."
(4) The Global Governance Initiative: Improving a Just and Equitable Governance System through Institutional Innovation
The Global Governance Initiative (GGI) directly faces the structural defects of the current global governance system, focusing on core problems such as insufficient representation, lagging rules, and weak action. Its core essence includes five aspects: adhering to sovereign equality, abiding by international rule of law, practicing multilateralism, advocating a people-centered approach, and emphasizing a results-oriented focus. It stresses that all countries, regardless of size, strength, or wealth, should participate equally, make decisions equally, and benefit equally in global governance. It advocates firmly upholding the status and authority of the United Nations and giving full play to the UN's irreplaceable role in global governance. The goal is to promote the building of a more just and equitable global governance system. Following its proposal, the initiative quickly gained explicit support from over 140 countries and international organizations. UN Secretary-General António Guterres evaluated that "the GGI is rich in connotation, and its core concepts are highly compatible with the beliefs the UN upholds, effectively responding to the strong call of the international community to reform and improve the global governance system."
Although the GGI was proposed recently, measures embodying its core essence have long permeated the practices of the CPC. The Party has focused on the structural maladies of the global governance system, vigorously promoting the reform of multilateral mechanisms, fostering coordination among international organizations, and striving to enhance the discourse power [6] of developing countries. Addressing the representative imbalance in institutions such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), China has actively pushed for the initiation of substantive reforms such as quota adjustments and rule optimization, working to reverse the current situation where the contributions of emerging markets and developing countries do not match their discourse power. In the building of the BRICS New Development Bank, China spearheaded the implementation of an equal voting rights system and explored a new governance model distinct from Western multilateral development banks through innovative measures like simplifying approval processes and broadening financing channels, thereby breaking the hegemonic governance logic of Western financial institutions. Facing the regulatory vacuum in emerging fields such as the digital economy and artificial intelligence, China has taken the initiative to build multilateral consultation platforms and actively participated in the drafting and improvement of international rules, promoting the formation of an inclusive governance framework that balances development and security and is adapted to the different developmental stages of different countries. This series of measures fully proves that China is not only an active advocate of the GGI but also a steadfast person of action.
II. The Internal Logic of the Four Global Initiatives: A Dialectically Unified Organic Whole
The four global initiatives are not a collection of isolated policies; rather, they constitute an organic whole centered on the core goal of building a community with a shared future for humanity, interconnected and supporting one another in terms of strategic goals, theoretical origins, and practical processes.
(1) Synergy of Goals: The Four-Dimensional Support for a Community with a Shared Future for Humanity
The four global initiatives precisely anchor the core requirements for building a community with a shared future for humanity. They form targeted, mutual support across four key dimensions—material foundation, security environment, spiritual consensus, and institutional guarantee—connecting with and advancing one another to jointly construct the practical framework of a community with a shared future for humanity.
The GDI builds a solid material foundation for the community with a shared future for humanity. Xi Jinping has pointed out: "The purpose of practicing the GDI is to achieve the benefit-for-all of growth opportunities, promote the inclusiveness of development paths, allow the people of all countries to share in the fruits of development, move toward development and prosperity together in the 'global village,' and turn the concept of win-win into a consensus." Based on this orientation, the GDI focuses resource investment on addressing the shortcomings in the livelihoods of people in developing countries. Through pragmatic measures such as poverty reduction cooperation, food security guarantees, and infrastructure construction, it promotes the transformation of global economic growth models toward a fairer and more sustainable direction. For example, with the support of the China-FAO South-South Cooperation Trust Fund, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China has implemented three consecutive phases of South-South cooperation projects in Uganda. Through years of introducing high-quality varieties and demonstration planting, the local yield of hybrid rice has increased to 2–3 times that of conventional varieties. To date, the project has achieved high yields on approximately 90,000 mu [7] of rice paddies, benefiting nearly 8,000 farming households, with an average annual household income increase of about 8 million Ugandan shillings. Allawi Ssemanda, Executive Director of the Development Watch Centre in Uganda, stated: "The popularization and promotion of Chinese agricultural technology is of great significance for the modernization of African agriculture, and the prospects for Africa-China agricultural cooperation are vast."
The GSI creates a stable environment for building a community with a shared future for humanity. History and reality have repeatedly proven that—
"Peace and stability are the general trend, and development and prosperity are the aspiration of the people." Xi Jinping has pointed out: "Development is the foundation of security, and security is the precondition for development," and "without peace, development is out of the question," while "peace must be striven for and maintained." The new security outlook advocated by the Global Security Initiative breaks away from the traditional thinking of Western countries' unilateral pursuit of their own "absolute security." It emphasizes resolving contradictions and conflicts through dialogue and consultation, and addressing various security challenges through win-win cooperation. From participating in escorts in the Gulf of Aden to guarantee the security of international shipping lanes, to promoting the restoration of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran and striving to resolve long-standing grievances in the Middle East, China's series of practices in global security governance have injected precious stability into turbulent regions. These actions not only allow the countries involved to concentrate on developing their economies and improving people’s livelihoods but also prove that security dilemmas can be resolved through consultation among equals.
The Global Civilization Initiative builds a spiritual consensus for constructing a community with a shared future for humanity. Xi Jinping noted: "Civilizations are not ranked as superior or inferior, they only differ in characteristics and geography," and "different civilizations should learn from each other's strengths to make common progress, making civilizational exchange and mutual learning a driving force for the progress of human society and a bond for maintaining world peace." In today’s era of deep globalization, civilizational differences should not be the source of opposition or conflict, but rather the wellspring of innovation and progress. The Global Civilization Initiative upholds the concept of equal dialogue between civilizations, opposes labeling or conflictualizing civilizational differences, and advocates for enhancing understanding and trust among the people of all nations through exchange and mutual learning. In 2024, the 78th UN General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution to establish the "International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations." This demonstrates that the core concepts of the Global Civilization Initiative have ascended from a Chinese proposal to an international consensus. Through multi-level and multi-channel people-to-people exchanges, people of all nations eliminate misunderstandings and form identities in cultural interaction, laying a deep foundation of public opinion for building a community with a shared future for humanity, and providing the inner cohesion for different countries and civilizations to move together toward common goals.
The Global Governance Initiative provides the institutional guarantee for building a community with a shared future for humanity. A fair and reasonable institutional system is the key support for sustainable and predictable international cooperation; without perfected governance rules, the construction of a community with a shared future for humanity lacks a stable operational framework. Currently, problems in the global governance system—such as insufficient representation and lagging rules—have led to increasingly acute issues, including the low participation of developing countries and a lack of a sense of responsibility in some nations, which seriously restricts the effectiveness of international cooperation. The Global Governance Initiative directly faces this structural contradiction. By promoting the reform of multilateral mechanisms and strengthening coordination among international organizations, it strives to resolve the governance imbalance dominated by developed countries where developing countries lack a sufficient voice. The global governance outlook of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits provides a solid guarantee of rules for the realization of a community with a shared future for humanity, ensuring that international cooperation can advance continuously within a fair and just framework and that the common interests of humanity are effectively maintained.
(II) Theoretical Common Origins: The Fusion and Innovation of Marxism and Fine Traditional Chinese Culture
The four major Global Initiatives not only uphold the theoretical core of Marxism but also contain the rich heritage of fine traditional Chinese culture, while reflecting distinct characteristics of the times. They are the concentrated embodiment of the "Two Combinations" [8] in the field of global governance.
The Global Development Initiative deeply practices the core tenets of historical materialism while integrating the governance wisdom of fine traditional Chinese culture. Marx believed: "The mode of production of material life conditions the general process of social, political, and intellectual life." The Global Development Initiative places development at the core of global governance, emphasizing the improvement of production conditions through innovation-driven growth and interconnectivity. In essence, this is a contemporary application of the principle that productive forces are the ultimate deciding power of social development. Its advocacy for a people-centered, inclusive, and beneficial concept both echoes the Marxist ultimate pursuit of the free and well-rounded development of the individual and tallies with the ideas in fine traditional Chinese culture that "the people are the foundation of the state" [9] and "the world is for the public" (天下为公). It forms a complete theoretical logic of "liberating the productive forces—optimizing the relations of production—benefiting all the people," achieving a realistic transformation of classical theory and traditional wisdom.
The Global Security Initiative flexibly employs the contradictory analysis method of dialectical materialism and the concept of harmony from fine traditional Chinese culture. Dialectical materialism points out that contradiction is the fundamental driving force of the development of things, and the key to resolving contradictions lies in grasping the principal aspect of the principal contradiction. Xi Jinping pointed out: "Contradictions exist universally; contradiction is the substantive content of the connection between things and the fundamental driving force of their development. Human cognitive and practical activities, fundamentally speaking, are a process of constantly recognizing and resolving contradictions." The Global Security Initiative directly faces the security contradictions existing in international society and abandons the "either-or" antagonistic mindset. On the basis of respecting the differences in the security interests of all countries, it advocates for building the "greatest common denominator" through dialogue and consultation. This approach is the concrete application of the method of contradictory analysis in the field of international relations, profoundly reflecting the wisdom of "harmony without uniformity" [10] and "valuing harmony" promoted by fine traditional Chinese culture. This initiative breaks the zero-sum game mindset of traditional Western security views, providing a Chinese solution that possesses both theoretical depth and cultural connotation for addressing global security dilemmas.
The Global Civilization Initiative enriches and develops the Marxist view of civilization while inheriting the inclusive qualities of fine traditional Chinese culture. Marxism holds that social consciousness possesses relative independence and exerts an active counter-reaction on social existence; civilization always exists and manifests in certain forms. This requires us to adhere to the standpoint of historical materialism and respect the diverse civilizational achievements formed by people in different regions and historical stages. The Global Civilization Initiative emphasizes civilizational diversity, the common values of all humanity, and the inheritance and innovation of civilizations. This initiative advocates for building a consensus on values through civilizational dialogue, fully grasping the leading role of social consciousness in global governance. This concept is rooted in the wisdom of "Great Unity under Heaven" (天下大同) [11] and "harmony among all nations" (协和万邦) [12] found in fine traditional Chinese culture. It opposes the "theory of civilizational superiority" and the "clash of civilizations theory," advocating for the equal coexistence and mutual learning of different civilizations. This initiative continues the Marxist view of civilization while enriching its connotations by integrating the realities of contemporary globalization, providing new ideological guidance for promoting the progress of human civilization.
The Global Governance Initiative follows the Marxist principle of the dialectical relationship between the economic base and the superstructure, absorbing the transformative wisdom of fine traditional Chinese culture. Marxism holds that the superstructure must adapt to the development and changes of the economic base; otherwise, it will restrict the development of the economic base and the progress of productive forces. Xi Jinping emphasized: "As the economy continues to develop, society continues to progress, and people's lives continue to improve, the superstructure must constantly undergo reform to adapt to new requirements. This is a universal law of human social development." The root cause of the current global governance deficit lies in the serious disconnect between the obligations required by the global governance system and the enormous contributions of emerging markets and developing countries. The Global Governance Initiative is committed to promoting the reform of multilateral mechanisms and increasing the voice of developing countries; in essence, it is the adherence to and practice of the law that the superstructure must adapt to the economic base. Simultaneously, the initiative integrates the concepts of advancing with the times and "discarding the old to bring forth the new" (革故鼎新) from fine traditional Chinese culture, providing Chinese wisdom for the reform of the global governance system.
(III) Practical Linkage: A Closed-Loop Synergistic Mechanism of Systemic Governance
The implementation of each of the four Global Initiatives creates favorable conditions for the practice of the others, while the proposal and practice of the other initiatives, in turn, reinforce the implementation effects of that specific initiative, thereby forming a mutually supporting and continuously upgrading governance force.
The Global Development Initiative builds the material and social foundation for security cooperation and civilizational exchange. Lagging development is often the root cause of security risks and deepening civilizational barriers. Agricultural cooperation projects implemented by China in Africa have not only doubled local grain yields through the introduction of high-yield varieties and standardized planting techniques but also relied on supporting projects to build technical training centers for farmers, simultaneously carrying out China-Africa agricultural cultural exchange activities. This model of "technical assistance + cultural interaction" has resolved the food and clothing problems of local people and reduced local conflicts caused by resource competition; it has also allowed the people of China and Africa to increase understanding and establish trust in the practice of production. It has cleared obstacles in public opinion for both sides to carry out security cooperation in counter-terrorism and anti-drug efforts, and provided a normalized practical scene for civilizational dialogue, achieving a benign interaction between development, security, and civilizational exchange.
The Global Security Initiative creates a stable environment for developmental cooperation and governance reform. Security is the prerequisite for economic development and the basis for the effective operation of governance mechanisms. Taking security cooperation under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as an example, member states have effectively curbed the spread of terrorism and extremist forces in Central Asia by holding joint counter-terrorism exercises and sharing cross-border security intelligence, constructing a solid regional security barrier. A stable security environment has directly led to the upgrade of regional economic cooperation. For instance, "In 2024, the trade volume between China and other SCO member states was approximately 512.4 billion USD, a year-on-year increase of 2.7%, twice that of 2018," and large-scale cooperation projects in energy and infrastructure have also been densely implemented. Meanwhile, the enhancement of mutual security trust has pushed member states to achieve more consensus on governance issues like trade facilitation and the coordination of investment rules, significantly improving the execution of regional governance mechanisms and achieving the synergistic advancement of security guarantees, development, and governance.
The Global Civilization Initiative builds social consensus for developmental cooperation and governance consultation. Deep cooperation between countries cannot be separated from emotional resonance at the grassroots level. For example, under the China-ASEAN cooperation framework, "'China-ASEAN Year of People-to-People Exchanges' activities have flourished, personnel exchanges have become more convenient, and more and more interactions that connect hearts, provide warmth, and are 'down-to-earth' have built a bridge of mutual understanding and affinity between the people of both sides." An increasing number of people in ASEAN countries are learning about China's development concepts through these activities, and their acceptance of regional development projects and governance plans proposed by China has increased significantly. The strengthening of this foundation of public opinion has greatly increased the efficiency of consultations between China and ASEAN on issues such as the construction of cross-border economic cooperation zones and the optimization of regional trade rules, effectively reducing "soft" resistance in cooperation and achieving the empowerment of development and governance by civilizational exchange.
The Global Governance Initiative provides the institutional guarantee for development, security, and civilizational cooperation. Currently, problems such as lagging updates and the fragmentation of rules in global governance mechanisms restrict the deepening of global cooperation. To meet this challenge, China actively promotes the reform of the global governance system across multiple fields. For instance, China pushed for the reform of the BRICS New Development Bank, optimizing loan approval processes, significantly shortening the decision-making cycle for infrastructure projects, and markedly improving the efficiency of developing countries in obtaining construction funds. In the field of the digital economy, the Global Data Security Initiative launched by China "provides an important reference for global digital governance and has received active responses from more than 120 countries and international regional organizations." These innovations at the institutional level provide stable rule support for global development projects and build a standardized coordination platform for security cooperation and civilizational exchange, strongly guaranteeing the continuous and efficient advancement of various types of cooperation and achieving comprehensive support from institutional guarantees for development, security, and civilizational exchange and mutual learning.
III. The World Significance of the Four Global Initiatives: China's Contribution to the Transformation of the Global Order
The proposal and advancement of the four Global Initiatives mark a profound transformation for China from an active participant in global governance to a systemic architect. These initiatives not only inject stability and certainty into an international community in a period of turbulent change but also contribute Chinese wisdom to moving the global order in a more just, reasonable, and inclusive direction.
(I) Theoretical Innovation: Breaking Through the Global Governance Paradigm of West-centrism
After World War II, the discourse power of global governance was long monopolized by the Western liberal paradigm. Theories once held as "gold standards," such as the "End of History," "Hegemonic Stability Theory," and the "Clash of Civilizations," have gradually exposed prominent problems of declining explanatory power and insufficient reality-adaptation in the face of today's highly interconnected world and deeply intertwined risks. The root of these problems lies in the fact that these theories are rooted in the narrow perspective of Western capitalism and cannot respond to the needs of the common development of humanity. The proposal of the four Global Initiatives is not a "patching up" of existing Western theories, but rather, based on the realistic dilemmas of global governance, the construction of a new type of global governance theoretical system with Chinese characteristics that fits the features of the era.
Looking at specific theoretical breakthroughs, the Global Development Initiative precisely targets…
The center-periphery structure of dependency is a pain point for development. Unlike traditional Western development theories that relegate developing countries to a status of passive dependency, the Global Development Initiative (GDI) proposes building a more equal and balanced global development partnership. By transforming developing countries from mere followers in global development into co-builders, it breaks the old pattern of core-country dominance and periphery-country dependency, providing a brand-new theoretical answer to the problem of global developmental imbalance. The Global Security Initiative (GSI) thoroughly shakes off the shackles of traditional Western security thinking, such as zero-sum games, absolute security, and bloc confrontation. It creatively proposes a new security concept that is common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable. Its core lies in acknowledging the differences and interconnections of the security interests of all nations, advocating for the search for the "greatest common denominator" of security demands through dialogue and consultation. This breaks the security dilemma where one country's security comes at the cost of another's insecurity, providing a new theoretical guide for building a world of universal security. The Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) confronts erroneous Western narratives such as "civilizational superiority" and the "clash of civilizations." It rejects the cognitive hegemony of a single civilizational standard, explicitly opposes viewing civilizational differences as a source of conflict, and establishes a new outlook on civilization characterized by equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness, asserting that civilizational diversity is the source of human progress. This theoretical innovation not only enriches the connotations of theories on civilizational development but also provides a more inclusive theoretical follow-through [13] for the harmonious coexistence of different civilizations. Unlike traditional Western governance theories that emphasize dominance by great powers and rules set by a minority of countries, the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) targets old models such as "hegemonic governance" and "rule monopolies." It explicitly advocates that all countries—regardless of size, strength, or wealth—should enjoy the right to equal participation, equal decision-making, and equal benefit-sharing in global governance. This theoretical breakthrough directly addresses the structural contradictions of insufficient representation and lagging rules in the global governance system, laying a solid theoretical foundation for building a more just and reasonable global governance system.
(2) Practical Leadership: Exploring Feasible Paths for the Transformation of Global Order
Faced with an intensifying global governance deficit, traditional Western-led governance methods often can only produce passive, emergency-style responses, making it difficult to form a systematic and lasting governance synergy. The four major global initiatives proposed by China explore a feasible path for the incremental transformation of the global order through the "twin engines" of institutionalized construction and project-based advancement.
On the one hand, institutionalized construction is dedicated to building a stable cooperation framework and promoting the formation of international norms that exert sustainable influence. For example, in the dimension of development, the core principles of the GDI have been incorporated into relevant United Nations resolutions on many occasions, becoming important norms guiding global development cooperation. In the dimension of security, the core concepts of the GSI and the practical experience China has accumulated in mediating international conflicts are being gradually systematized and applied to multilateral security governance. In the dimension of civilizational exchange and mutual learning, various forums, exchange years, and cooperation networks have built a multi-level dialogue system, driving synergy among governments, the public, and think tanks. The "International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations" established by the UN is a significant mark of the international recognition and institutionalization of the GCI’s concepts. In the dimension of governance, China actively promotes quota reforms in institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, effectively enhancing the representation and voice of emerging markets and developing countries, and promoting the global governance system toward a more fair and reasonable direction. These institutional constructions do not seek to "start a new kitchen" [14] but rather to supplement and improve existing global governance mechanisms, reflecting the practical wisdom of proceeding step-by-step.
On the other hand, project-based advancement transforms abstract concepts into visible and tangible pragmatic results, continuously deepening the integration of interests among nations. The vitality of the four global initiatives must ultimately be manifested in actual projects that benefit people's livelihoods. For example, in improving livelihoods and promoting development, the poverty reduction demonstration projects carried out by China in countries like Laos and Ethiopia adopt the "industrial support + skills training" model, helping large numbers of people escape poverty. "According to a World Bank research report, the joint construction of the Belt and Road will help 7.6 million people in relevant countries escape extreme poverty and 32 million people escape moderate poverty." Regarding capacity building, by establishing vocational training centers and providing scholarships, China has trained a large number of technical talents for developing countries in fields such as new energy and the digital economy, enhancing the endogenous momentum for these countries' independent development. In the protection of cultural heritage, China has demonstrated its responsibility as a major power. Projects such as the joint restoration of the Luxor Temple in Egypt and the protection of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, have both guarded the common cultural treasures of humanity and driven the development of local cultural tourism industries. In the field of green development, China uses the goals of reaching carbon peak and achieving carbon neutrality as a lead to coordinately promote carbon reduction, pollution reduction, green expansion, and growth, deeply participating in and leading global climate governance to inject strong momentum into the global response to climate change. Data shows that "during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the wind power and photovoltaic products exported by China reduced carbon emissions for other countries by approximately 4.1 billion tons." These projects focus on development needs, emphasize practical results, avoid empty promises, and do not attach any political conditions, thus winning broad recognition from the international community, especially the vast number of developing countries.
(3) Value Contribution: A Practical Model for Practicing the Common Values of All Humanity
"Peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom are the common values of all humanity and the lofty goals of the United Nations." Through concrete and actionable practical designs, the four global initiatives allow the common values of all humanity to move from paper into reality, providing correct value leadership for the development of human society.
In the implementation of the value of peace, the GSI provides an innovative solution distinct from traditional Western conflict resolution models. Its core breakthrough lies in abandoning the old approach of great-power-led mediation in favor of building a multi-party mediation mechanism characterized by consultation between the parties involved and empowerment by third parties. For example, during the process of restoring diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, China did not preset a solution but instead built a dialogue platform based on the core concerns of both countries, facilitating an independent consensus on reconciliation. This practice not only added a new force for peace in the Middle East but also proved the feasibility of resolving long-standing feuds through equal dialogue, providing a reference case for resolving disputes and conflicts. It ensures that peace is no longer a distant vision but a perceptible security environment, vividly practicing the concept of peace within the common values of all humanity.
In realizing the value of development, the GDI breaks the inherent model of aid-based development and builds a new framework of development through capacity co-construction. Over the past few years, relevant cooperation has not been about the simple injection of funds but has focused precisely on the capacity deficiencies of developing countries. Since July 2017, China has implemented "East Asia Poverty Reduction Demonstration Cooperation Technical Assistance Projects" in six impoverished villages in Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar. China built new infrastructure for these demonstration villages, including drinking water, bridges, roads, and electricity; constructed public service facilities such as village activity centers, health clinics, and schools; and built or renovated housing, toilets, and environmental protection facilities for impoverished households, improving the production and living conditions as well as the appearance of the villages. The model and effectiveness of these projects have been highly praised by ministers of ASEAN countries and representatives of international organizations such as the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, and they have been called a "benchmark for poverty reduction cooperation." The implementation of such projects allows the fruits of development to benefit the people of all countries more equitably.
In promoting the value of fairness, the GDI and GGI directly confront long-standing issues such as the unfair distribution of power in the international system, striving to build a more just global governance system. For example, as the only multilateral development institution in the world where developing countries are the largest shareholders and developed countries are minority shareholders, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)—proposed and established by China—has seen its "membership increase from 57 to 110 over the past 10 years, covering 81% of the world's population and 65% of global GDP. It has approved over 300 projects with a total financing of over 60 billion USD, driving more than 200 billion USD in infrastructure investment and benefiting 38 members both within and outside Asia." These practices have not only significantly enhanced the participation and voice of emerging markets and developing countries in global economic affairs but have also allowed the value of fairness to gradually shift from concepts and advocacy into perceptible institutional results.
In the implementation of the value of justice, the GGI emphasizes institutional protections for vulnerable countries and groups. Addressing the plight of the least developed countries in the process of globalization, China joined other BRICS nations in the Rio de Janeiro Declaration to "reaffirm support for an open, transparent, fair, inclusive, equal, non-discriminatory, and consensus-based multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core," support "special and differential treatment for developing members," and "condemn the implementation of unilateral coercive measures that violate international law." This reflects an institutional safeguarding of "human rights such as the right to development, the right to health, and food security for the common people of target countries." Furthermore, as the "world's first intergovernmental organization dedicated to resolving international disputes through mediation," the International Organization for Mediation, initiated and established by China, "helps to enhance the representation and voice of developing countries, will promote global governance in the field of the rule of law toward a more just and reasonable direction, and will jointly provide more choices and paths for the efficient and peaceful resolution of international disputes." These measures ensure that the value of justice is no longer an abstract moral petition but is transformed into concrete actions to protect the rights to survival and development of vulnerable groups and disadvantaged nations.
In the promotion of the value of democracy, China actively advocates for the democratization of international relations, striving to break the liberal world order where rules are set by a few Western countries and followed by the majority. China always "upholds the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, advocates for multilateralism, and believes that everyone's affairs should be discussed by everyone. It encourages all parties to give play to their respective strengths and do their best, utilizing various forms such as bilateral, trilateral, and multilateral cooperation to fully tap into everyone's advantages and potential, gathering sand to form a pagoda and accumulating water to form an abyss [15]." For example, in global climate governance, China consistently adheres to the "principle of equity, common but differentiated responsibilities, and respective capabilities based on different national conditions," respecting the emission reduction paths chosen by developing countries according to their own circumstances to ensure their rights to survival and development are fully protected. These efforts ensure that international decision-making is no longer a "one-man show" by a few countries but a "symphony" of equal participation by all, making the value of democracy a practical norm for the joint consultation of global affairs across borders.
In the process of realizing the value of freedom, China promotes connectivity and institutionalized opening-up, helping countries achieve broader free collaboration on the basis of independently choosing their own development paths. As of November 2025, China has signed 23 free trade agreements with 30 countries and regions; restrictions on foreign investment access in the manufacturing sector have been completely "cleared to zero"; and the China-Europe Railway Express reaches over 200 cities in 26 European countries, with a cumulative total of over 110,000 trains dispatched. This has built a "steel camel fleet" [16] spanning Eurasia, effectively breaking geographical and institutional barriers and promoting the freer and more convenient flow of goods and personnel. "To walk with China is to walk with opportunity; to believe in China is to believe in tomorrow; to invest in China is to invest in the future"—this is becoming a broader international consensus.
The world significance of the four global initiatives lies not only in providing a Chinese judgment on the "question of our times"—"What is wrong with the world, and what should we do?"—but also in systematically proposing an overall action framework of "What China will do, and how the world should act." It marks the formation of a new path for the evolution of order that transcends hegemonic succession and bloc confrontation. In this process, by virtue of the wisdom of its ancient civilization, its theoretical consciousness of Marxism, and its practical commitment to fulfilling the responsibilities of a major power, China has contributed an irreplaceable force to the common future of humanity, highlighting the world significance of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era.
IV. Conclusion
Human society is currently at a critical stage in the profound evolution of the changes unseen in a century. Global challenges are intertwined, bringing both unprecedented development dilemmas and historical opportunities for the transformation of the global governance system. At this major historical juncture, when faced with various "global problems, no country can solve them by fighting alone; there must be global action, global response, and global cooperation."
As a responsible major power, China has always taken it as its mission to answer the questions of the world and the times, striving to inject stability and positive energy into the uncertain international situation. The proposal and implementation of the four global initiatives represent a systematic and complete set of public goods provided by China to the world. They are not isolated political statements but rather systematic answers—from the four dimensions of material foundations, security environment, spiritual consensus, and institutional framework—to the major question of "What kind of world should be built, and how to build it?" Together, they support the framework of a community with a shared future for humanity and stand as an important achievement of the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism.
As Xi Jinping has pointed out:
"History tells us that the more difficult the moments we face, the more we must uphold our original aspiration [17] for peaceful coexistence, strengthen our confidence in win-win cooperation, and persist in advancing within the logic of historical progress and developing within the currents of the times." Implementing the four global initiatives presents broad prospects and arduous tasks, requiring the sustained and collective efforts of the international community. China will continue to uphold its mission to "seek progress for humanity and the Great Unity [18] for the world." Hand in hand with the international community, and taking the four global initiatives as strategic guidance, China will persist in a vision of global governance based on extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits. We will deepen pragmatic cooperation in key areas, enhance consensus, and improve multilateral mechanisms. Step by step, we will resolve the "four deficits" [19]—namely, the deficits in peace, development, security, and governance—thereby gathering a powerful synergy to build a better world and jointly compose a new chapter in the progress of human civilization.
Author's Affiliation: School of Marxism, Xi'an Jiaotong University Source: Contemporary World and Socialism Issue 6, 2025 Editor: Hui Hui