As geopolitical rivalries intensify, economic uncertainty deepens and climate and security threats escalate, China’s Global Governance Initiative (GGI) is gaining growing international attention for its emphasis on cooperation, multilateralism and practical responses to shared global challenges.
Proposed by President Xi Jinping in September at the “Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus” meeting, the GGI calls for respect for sovereign equality, adherence to international law, genuine multilateralism, a people-centered approach and action-oriented cooperation.
Since its launch, the initiative has won support from more than 140 countries and international organizations.Analysts say the GGI reflects China’s increasingly proactive role in global governance at a time when international institutions are under strain and global trust is eroding.
By promoting inclusiveness, dialogue and shared responsibility, the initiative offers countries—particularly those in the Global South—a common roadmap to navigate crises, enhance stability and amplify their collective voice.In November, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the GGI, together with the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative, constitutes important global public goods provided by China.
While distinct in focus, he said the four initiatives are mutually reinforcing pillars supporting the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity.
Call for greater solidarity
Former Slovenian president Danilo Turk described the GGI as invaluable in helping the world define a path toward stability and prosperity, especially in addressing challenges such as climate change that require universally accepted frameworks. He stressed that no country can tackle global problems alone and highlighted the importance of China’s long-term vision.
Former UN General Assembly president Maria Fernanda Espinosa said the GGI recognizes the urgency of collective responsibility in addressing shared goals such as peace, poverty reduction, food security, health and climate resilience. She called it a “cross-cutting initiative” that underscores respect for international law, predictability and agreed rules, particularly for Global South cooperation.
German Sinologist Wolfgang Kubin emphasized the importance of trust in global governance, drawing on Confucian philosophy. He warned that habitual criticism without self-reflection undermines cooperation, stressing that trust is essential for humanity and effective governance.
Wang Yi has highlighted the urgency of unity, noting that more than 50 conflicts are currently ongoing worldwide and over 100 million people have been displaced. Against this backdrop, he said the GGI sends a strong message that countries must work together to overcome division and confrontation.
Reaffirming multilateralism
The GGI is widely viewed as a reaffirmation of multilateralism. On Dec 9, 43 founding members launched the Group of Friends of Global Governance, calling for stronger support for the UN and coordinated responses to global challenges.China’s UN ambassador Fu Cong said the group is open to all member states and aims to promote a more just and equitable global governance system.
Former Belgian prime minister Yves Leterme praised the GGI for strengthening multilateralism and rebalancing global governance to reflect the growing influence of non-Western countries.
Former Bosnian prime minister Zlatko Lagumdzija said the four initiatives together offer a roadmap toward a shared future that values diversity as an asset. He warned that abandoning multilateralism and international law risks pushing the world toward instability and conflict.
Leading by example
China has consistently advocated safeguarding the UN-centered international system. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and the world’s largest developing country, it positions itself as a builder of peace, a contributor to development and a provider of global public goods. China is the largest contributor of peacekeeping personnel among Security Council permanent members and the second-largest financial contributor to the UN and its peacekeeping missions.
Former UN General Assembly president Volkan Bozkir said China often plays a stabilizing role in difficult situations and can serve as a reference point for effective governance. China’s decision to forgo special and differential treatment in future WTO negotiations was widely seen as a demonstration of its commitment to multilateralism and global economic reform.
Experts note that China’s confidence in assuming greater international responsibilities stems from its economic transformation and governance experience, which many developing countries view as instructive.
Focus on practical solutions
According to China’s Foreign Ministry, the GGI prioritizes areas where global governance demand is high but supply remains insufficient, including financial system reform, artificial intelligence, cyberspace, climate change, trade and outer space. China has announced new climate commitments, launched the International Organization for Mediation in Hong Kong, and advanced initiatives on global AI governance, aiming to ensure technology serves the common good.Former leaders and scholars from Europe, Asia and Latin America have broadly welcomed the GGI for its emphasis on dialogue, realism and non-ideological solutions.
They highlight that China does not require partners to adopt specific political or economic models, a feature that resonates strongly with developing countries.
As global challenges grow more interconnected and complex, many analysts argue that initiatives like the GGI offer a timely framework for rebuilding trust, strengthening multilateral cooperation and guiding the world toward a more stable, inclusive and rules-based future.
