Wang Bo: Global Governance Initiatives Provide Development Opportunities and Cooperation Momentum for Global South Countries

The Global Governance Initiative is another major public good contributed by our country to the world, following the "Three Major Initiatives" ^[1]. President Xi Jinping pointed out: "I proposed the Global Governance Initiative with the aim of promoting all countries to act hand in hand to build a more just and reasonable global governance system." At present, the collective rise of the Global South has made it an indispensable and important force in the process of reforming the global governance system. The Global Governance Initiative provides new development opportunities and cooperation momentum for Global South countries, and holds great significance for promoting the development of the international political and economic order toward a more democratic, just, and reasonable direction.

Global governance primarily refers to regulating the behavior of various countries and maintaining a normal international political and economic order by formulating a series of binding international rules. Reforming and perfecting the global governance system is an objective requirement for the development and progress of human society. As economic globalization develops in depth, the Global South plays an increasingly important role in international affairs. At present, the total economic output of the Global South accounts for more than 40% of the world's total, and its contribution rate to world economic growth over the past 20 years has reached 80%. Its market potential and resource endowments are becoming important forces driving global development. However, the current global governance system is still primarily dominated by Western countries; it has failed to fully reflect this change, and problems of inadequacy and misalignment have become increasingly prominent. At the same time, in the face of rising unilateralism, isolationism, and protectionism, the flaws and drawbacks of the current global governance system are being increasingly exposed, leading to long-term failures in effectively addressing global challenges such as climate change and public health crises. In contrast, Global South countries defend multilateralism through action. Through important platforms such as the BRICS ^[2] cooperation mechanism and the "Group of 77 and China," they actively promote the development of the global governance system toward a more just and reasonable direction, becoming an important force for driving change in global governance.

The proposal of the Global Governance Initiative conforms to the prevailing trend of the times toward world multipolarity and the democratization of international relations, and meets the common call of people of all countries for peace, development, and cooperation. It has already received responsive support from more than 150 countries and international organizations. The "Group of Friends of the Global Governance Initiative" emerged as the times required ^[3] at the United Nations, with more than 40 countries becoming founding members, fully demonstrating that this initiative is a powerful response to the international community’s strong call to reform and perfect the global governance system.

The Global Governance Initiative emphasizes five core concepts: upholding sovereign equality, abiding by the international rule of law, practicing multilateralism, advocating a people-centered approach, and emphasizing action-orientation. These concepts are not only a profound reflection on the multiple challenges and the global governance deficit faced by the current international order, but also an active response to the long-term aspirations of Global South countries, providing a systematic plan for reforming and perfecting global governance. Sovereign equality is the primary prerequisite, emphasizing that all countries enjoy the right to participate equally in international affairs. The international rule of law is the fundamental guarantee, insisting that all countries jointly maintain international law and the basic norms of international relations to ensure the equal and unified application of international norms. Multilateralism is the basic path, adhering to the global governance view of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, while resisting unilateralism and hegemonic acts. A people-centered approach reflects the value orientation, emphasizing that the fruits of governance should benefit the people of all countries more fairly and achieve common development. Action-orientation serves as an important principle, emphasizing that global governance should avoid empty talk, focus on actual results, and promote the perfection of the global governance system through pragmatic cooperation.

The Global Governance Initiative is conducive to better exerting the important role of Global South countries as a constructive force in global governance, and will have a profound impact on promoting the reform of the global governance system. First, it can provide pragmatic development support for Global South countries. The Global South arose for the sake of development and prospers because of development; it is actively committed to solving development puzzles and seeking an inclusive development environment. By reforming and perfecting the global governance system, the Global Governance Initiative consolidates the foundation—both institutionally and mechanistically—for promoting the sharing of development opportunities and the joint creation of a beautiful future among Global South countries. Second, it can promote strengthened unity and coordination among Global South countries. Global South countries watch over and help one another ^[4] and achieve strength through unity in responding to global challenges. They strengthen communication and coordination around issues of universal concern, such as regional peace and stability and global environmental governance, to jointly seek solutions. The Global Governance Initiative provides an important platform for this, which can promote the in-depth development of South-South cooperation and regional integration. Third, it can enhance the status and discourse power of Global South countries within the global governance system. Global South countries persist in peace, promote the strengthening of international security cooperation and global security governance, and join hands to respond to various security challenges. The Global Governance Initiative promotes equal participation, equal decision-making, and equal benefits for all countries in the global governance process, bridging the "representation deficit," promoting a more balanced and effective global governance architecture, and injecting more stability into international affairs. Fourth, it can powerfully promote Global South countries to strengthen mutual learning among civilizations. Diverse civilizations are the true colors of the world and, moreover, the advantage of Global South countries. The Global Governance Initiative supports the Global South in actively enhancing communication and dialogue, supports each other in following a path to modernization that suits their own national conditions, and is committed to promoting different civilizations to learn from each other and progress together, providing guidance for hand-in-hand building a community with a shared future for humanity.

China is both the proposer of the Global Governance Initiative and an active practitioner of it. As an important member of the Global South, China was born in the South, cares for the South, and is rooted in the South. Taking the implementation of the Global Governance Initiative as a guide, China promotes the accelerated construction of a more just and reasonable global governance system, demonstrating the capacity and responsibility of a responsible major power. For example, in terms of global economic governance, China promotes high-quality development of the "Belt and Road" initiative and the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Silk Road Fund, and the BRICS New Development Bank. In terms of addressing climate change and promoting global biodiversity governance, China actively promoted the entry into force and implementation of the Paris Agreement and the reaching of the landmark "Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework." In terms of global security governance, China supports the United Nations in playing a greater role in global security affairs and actively promotes the political settlement of hotspot issues; and so on. These measures and plans respond to the most realistic and urgent concerns of Global South countries, bring new development opportunities and cooperation momentum to them, and promote Global South countries to better cooperate hand in hand, making greater contributions to achieving new results in the reform and construction of the global governance system and continuously advancing the lofty cause of human peace and development.

(The author is the Dean of the School of International Development and Cooperation at the University of International Business and Economics) Source: People's Daily (March 11, 2026) Editor: Huihui