Drawing a New Blueprint for Peace and Prosperity with Global Governance Initiatives: An Interview with Former Kyrgyz Prime Minister Djoomart Otorbaev
On October 28, the "Global Strategic Dialogue (2025)—The 80th Anniversary of the United Nations and the New Landscape of Global Governance" was successfully held at the Chinese Academy of History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). Djoomart Otorbaev, former Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan, was invited to attend and deliver a speech at the opening ceremony. Following the session, our correspondent conducted an exclusive interview with Otorbaev. Drawing on the historical context of the UN's 80th anniversary and the current state of global governance, Otorbaev elaborated on the role of the UN in maintaining world order and the necessity of its reform. He interpreted the significance of China's Global Governance Initiative [1] for constructing an equal and orderly multipolar world. Simultaneously, integrating the practice of friendly exchanges between China and Kyrgyzstan over the 33 years of diplomatic relations and the SCO’s operational experience of "consensus first," he shared pathways for the two nations to strengthen coordination in addressing global governance through economic projects. He also offered reflections on how "Global South" countries can participate in universally beneficial and inclusive globalization and build a consensus for cooperation through platforms like the BRICS mechanism.
The Global Governance Initiative Leads Governance Reform
Guangming Daily: The year 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. How do you evaluate the role played by the UN in maintaining world order? What is the greatest challenge currently facing the UN, and how should it be addressed?
Otorbaev: First, we must look back at history. The United Nations was born in the early aftermath of World War II, when 51 founding member states, driven by a shared determination, resolved to move from the ruins of war toward peace and build a world where the people of all nations coexist in harmony. Today, 80 years later, the world has undergone earth-shaking changes.
UN membership has now increased to 193 states, but the key lies not in the numerical growth, but in the fact that the "connotation" of member states is entirely different compared to 1945. Therefore, what we most urgently need to do now is to brainstorm ways to improve this institution—not to abolish it, but to promote its reform. For this reason, all kinds of voices and ideas from different countries and regions are particularly important.
The proposal of the Global Governance Initiative is timely and significant. As a major power, China is not only an economic giant but also a country that always keeps its eyes on the future. China has proposed a development plan that is distinctly different from the West, indexed by respect for national sovereignty, upholding the concept of non-violence, and advocating for mutual benefit and win-win results. Because of this, the world needs to think seriously about how to restart relevant processes to ensure that the UN, this unique international organization, can operate with higher efficiency.
SCO Practice Enhances Governance Effectiveness
Guangming Daily: You have previously spoken highly of the important role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), considering it a "lighthouse" for a turbulent era. How do you understand the uniqueness and importance of the SCO in the current global security landscape?
Otorbaev: Indeed, the current UN system faces many management difficulties—with a large number of member states and intricate interests among various parties, it is difficult to advance many issues quickly. Therefore, in my view, the SCO may well serve as a living model for efficient multilateral cooperation.
Currently, the SCO has 10 formal member states, 2 observer states, and 14 dialogue partners, having grown from the original six members into an "SCO Family" covering 26 countries. Member states hold regular meetings, engage in discussions around various issues, and formulate practical documents—this is no easy feat, as the implementation of all documents is based on the achievement of consensus.
The SCO summit held in Tianjin this year achieved outstanding results. It not only issued written statements but, more importantly, put forward many ideas for improving the organization's development and formulated clear strategic plans for the future. I believe this was a highly productive meeting, and I thank all participating countries; the collective efforts of all parties made this summit a great success.
The year 2026 will mark the 25th anniversary of the founding of the SCO, at which time the Kyrgyz Republic will hold the rotating presidency, and the summit will be held in Bishkek. We have already launched preparations under the slogan "25th Anniversary of the SCO: Working Together Toward Sustainable Peace, Development, and Prosperity." I firmly believe that through the joint efforts of all countries, we can certainly take another important step on the path toward strengthening the SCO and making it a model for efficient multilateral institutions.
Guangming Daily: At the SCO Tianjin Summit, China first proposed the Global Governance Initiative, calling on all countries to work together to promote the construction of a more just and reasonable global governance system. In your view, what does this initiative mean for the construction of an equal and orderly world multipolarity?
Otorbaev: Currently, the UN system has reached a moment where reform is imperative. In my view, the operational model of the SCO could serve as an excellent example for the efficient operation of multilateral institutions. Facing a rapidly changing geopolitical situation, continuously escalating sanctions and conflicts, and the increasingly tense relationship between the West and the "Global South," the SCO is becoming an important platform for resisting the development models that certain major powers attempt to impose on Eurasian countries.
From this perspective, the whole world, especially the "Global South" countries, is paying close attention to the Global Governance Initiative proposed by China. In my region of Central Asia, all five member states have expressed their agreement with this initiative. Now, we need to think about how to further promote the implementation of this initiative. We always believe that the peaceful and efficient development of multilateral institutions is the only way to build a fairer world.
Guangming Daily: You have mentioned that "global governance needs to adapt to new situations." Current global governance faces challenges such as insufficient effectiveness, and the UN has also mentioned "promoting the reform of international mechanisms," while the Global Governance Initiative emphasizes "equal participation of all countries." Under the framework of an equal and orderly world multipolarity, in which fields can China and Kyrgyzstan carry out cooperation to address the lack of effectiveness in global governance?
Otorbaev: The Global Governance Initiative was proposed just over a month ago and is currently in the critical stage of brainstorming and detailing its implementation. This is by no means an easy task, but I believe we have the ability to overcome the difficulties.
The history of interaction and cooperation between Central Asian countries and China is full of hope, productive, and highly significant. Thirty-three years ago, China and Kyrgyzstan established diplomatic relations; from a temporal dimension, this is not very long. Yet, during these 33 years, we have gradually built trust, carried out cooperation, and advanced mutually beneficial dialogue, finding the best solutions for various problems through consultation.
Currently, China and Central Asian countries have jointly explored many cooperative initiatives. The Global Governance Initiative needs time to be implemented step by step. I firmly believe that over time, this initiative will surely continue to develop and improve.
The "Global Strategic Dialogue" held by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences provided a timely and efficient platform for realizing this initiative. Today, the academic community is increasingly participating in the research and discussion of the initiative, offering suggestions for political decision-making. I believe this meeting will also achieve very positive outcomes.
Sino-Kyrgyz Cooperation Promotes Inclusive and Stable Globalization
Guangming Daily: What do you think is the biggest challenge facing economic globalization today? In the context of "universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization," how can China and Kyrgyzstan achieve a win-win situation for their own development and global benefit through regional cooperation mechanisms (such as the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative)? What is the significance of this cooperation model for other developing countries participating in globalization?
Otorbaev: In my view, competition is crucial in economic development. To carry out cooperation, one must be competitive; we must work hard to learn and closely monitor global dynamics so that we can participate in competition, cooperation, and exchange on a global scale. Therefore, we maintain an open attitude toward competition.
However, the practices of some other countries and regions in the world are different: those countries and regions that have lost their competitiveness (such as the United States and the European Union) have begun to implement protectionism and set up trade barriers. Why do these countries hinder normal competition at the international level? This approach is a dead end.
Although we belong to the "Global South" and are not developed countries, we are ready to participate in international competition and cooperation. We will not set up any form of barriers; we always promote free trade, free investment, and the movement of people, and cooperation in these fields will be further strengthened.
I believe the vast Asian continent can fully become a model of prosperous development. Recently, the ASEAN Summit was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to jointly explore the reasons for ASEAN's significant success. ASEAN member states differ significantly, yet they have worked together and developed together for many years. This successful case has led all countries to think about how to learn from its experience. In fact, there are many similar cases in the world that can serve as models for international cooperation and competition.
Guangming Daily: Currently, challenges such as regional conflicts and unilateralism affect the "equality" and "orderliness" of the global order. Both China and Kyrgyzstan are committed to promoting stability in the Central Asian region. Under the framework of the SCO, what cooperative measures can the two countries take to maintain regional security and stability?
Otorbaev: This is a very comprehensive question. As I mentioned in my previous answers, our country and other Central Asian countries are willing to cooperate with the outside world, especially since we are located in an inland region—landlocked countries must get along amicably with one another.
I can cite many exciting economic projects that we are jointly implementing with various countries, such as the new China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project. As a landmark project of the Belt and Road Initiative cooperation, it will not only shorten freight times between China and Europe but also turn Central Asia into an important transportation hub on the Eurasian continent, promoting regional economic cooperation and development and enhancing global connectivity.
There are many more projects that will further strengthen our cooperation and collaboration, but the primary prerequisite is building trust. As the ancient Chinese thinker Confucius said: "If a man does not keep his word, I do not know what he may be good for" [2]. In the history of cooperation between China and Kyrgyzstan, we have built mutual trust step by step: every disagreement and every problem that exists between the two sides is fully discussed and resolved in an open atmosphere. This is precisely how trust is built and the only path toward creating a more harmonious future.
Guangming Daily: You have long followed global governance reform and international development issues. Looking at the practice of Sino-Kyrgyz cooperation, how do you think developing countries should better build consensus and carry out cooperation in the process of promoting "equal and orderly multipolarity" and "universally beneficial and inclusive globalization"? What insights can Sino-Kyrgyz cooperation provide for global governance cooperation among developing countries?
Otorbaev: If one wishes to carry out cooperation, one must engage in dialogue, but achieving equal dialogue is often by no means easy. As partners, both sides must communicate on the same level—possessing equal understanding and similar levels of knowledge. From this perspective, China has undoubtedly set many excellent examples for other countries.
Therefore, to achieve equal dialogue, one must be fully prepared: one must have sufficient knowledge reserves to propose one's own ideas and the ability to respond effectively to the proposals of others. Today, some dialogues in the world are not truly equal, so it is difficult to produce practical effects. This brings us back to the issues of universal education and deepening the perception of global development processes. However, I believe that in Asia (including Central Asia and Southeast Asia), there are already many development practices worth learning from, and countries have also established different types of cooperative institutions.
We are constantly learning how to work together: China is learning, Central Asia is learning, and ASEAN is also learning. We will deepen cooperation through different forms and platforms.
I also want to mention the BRICS cooperation mechanism—this is a unique institution that, despite having no formal charter, possesses huge global influence. Every BRICS summit has been a complete success. This multilateral platform provides a good example for global cooperative development. The BRICS mechanism belongs to the "Global South," and today the combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of BRICS countries has surpassed that of the G7. This mechanism has no intention of targeting Western countries; its core goal is to promote the prosperity and cooperation of "Global South" countries.
Academic Discussion Provides Intellectual Support for Global Governance
Guangming Daily: Most of our core readers are researchers and practitioners in the academic community, mainly focusing on important issues such as the new landscape of global governance. What would you like to share with this group?
Otorbaev: The academic community plays a crucial role in political decision-making. Scientists and researchers can not only target domestic policies but also conduct preliminary discussions and brainstorm around important issues such as foreign policy. Therefore, it is particularly important to carry out exchanges with scholars in different fields in various forms (whether at the domestic or international level), and the role of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences is precisely reflected here.
China possesses a sophisticated education system and has cultivated a large number of outstanding talents. It is fully capable of being at the forefront of academic research—both in the fields of natural sciences and social sciences. I firmly believe that the academic community must shoulder the responsibility of leading the world toward a more prosperous future.