By Chris Michael
The year 2025 marks a historic milestone for the international community: 80 years since the founding of the United Nations (UN). Established in 1945, in the aftermath of two world wars, the UN was born as a shared promise by nations to safeguard peace, security, and international cooperation. Since then, it has served as the cornerstone of the international order, establishing a framework of collaboration based on international law and the core principles of the UN Charter
However, today’s shifting geopolitical landscape, the rapid rise of new technologies, and the growing inequality between the Global North and South highlight the urgent need for a renewed vision of global governance. China has responded to this call with the launch of the Global Governance Initiative (GGI).
A Global System Under Strain
The current international order faces a threefold challenge:
1. Underrepresentation of the Global South
Emerging markets and developing countries are gaining increasing weight in the global economy and international affairs. Yet, their voices remain marginal in global institutions. This historical imbalance calls for immediate correction, so that Global South nations have a meaningful say in critical decision-making.
2. Eroding Credibility of the UN and International Institutions
Core UN principles—such as sovereignty, equality, and the peaceful resolution of disputes—are often disregarded. Security Council decisions are bypassed, unilateral sanctions imposed arbitrarily, and international law politicized, undermining the credibility of the system.
3. Lack of Effectiveness
The implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is lagging. The climate crisis is worsening, the digital divide is widening, and crucial areas like artificial intelligence, cyberspace, and outer space are advancing without adequate regulatory frameworks.
China’s Proposal for a Fairer and More Functional System
As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and the most populous developing country, China has introduced the Global Governance Initiative (GGI). This proposal does not aim to overturn the existing international order, but to evolve it—through reform, enhanced multilateral cooperation, and adaptation to new realities.
Reforming and improving global governance does not mean overturning the current international order or creating a parallel framework outside the existing system. Rather, the goal is to make the current international system and institutions more capable—more effective in taking action, better adapted to change, faster and more responsive to global challenges, and more inclusive of the interests of all nations, especially developing ones.
The initiative is built on five key principles:
1. Sovereign Equality
The equality of all states is a cornerstone of international law. Every country—regardless of size or power—has the right to determine its own political and economic model without external interference. GGI promotes fair participation in global decision-making and the democratization of global governance.
2. Respect for International Law
The rules of international law must be applied consistently and without selectivity. Major powers must lead by example, both in honoring their commitments and in building international consensus on new areas of regulation—such as AI and cyberspace.
3. Strengthening Multilateralism
Only through dialogue and cooperation can global issues be managed effectively. The UN must be strengthened as the central forum of the international system. Practices of exclusion and unilateral action have no place in a modern global governance framework.
4. A Human-Centered Approach
The ultimate purpose of global governance is to improve human lives. GGI promotes a model that places human needs at the center—from economic well-being to social security, and from environmental protection to cultural coexistence.
5. Tangible Results
Governance is not theory—it is action. Effectiveness is measured by a system’s ability to solve problems, not merely to manage them. GGI encourages a systemic, coordinated, and pragmatic approach that addresses both immediate and long-term needs.
Four Pillars for a Shared Future
GGI is part of a broader framework of four interrelated Chinese initiatives:
- GDI (Global Development Initiative): Promoting sustainable development and poverty reduction.
- GSI (Global Security Initiative): Supporting international security through dialogue and cooperation.
- GCI (Global Civilization Initiative): Enhancing cultural dialogue and respect for diversity.
- GGI (Global Governance Initiative): Reforming the structure and effectiveness of global governance.
Together, these four initiatives form a unified vision for a fairer and more peaceful world.
Collective Action – A Global Perspective
China calls on all nations to actively participate in the conversation on reshaping global governance. The priorities are clear:
- Reforming the global financial system to reflect the needs of developing countries.
- Regulating artificial intelligence and cyberspace with ethical and security-based frameworks.
- Climate action based on fair burden-sharing and support for the green transition.
- Governance of outer space and global trade with full respect for international law and equality.
Support for the UN Pact for the Future is a central component of China’s approach.
A Shared Future Is Not a Luxury – It’s a Necessity
In an interconnected world, isolation is not an option. Crises know no borders—pandemics, climate change, energy instability, technological risks. No country can address these threats alone.
The Global Governance Initiative is not just a diplomatic document—it is a call for a new era of cooperation. A call to reimagine the international system in terms of equality, justice, and shared interest.
The future is not something we merely await—it is something we build together.
