Earlier this year, on September 1, 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping introduced the Global Governance Initiative at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus meeting in Tianjin. He called on countries to work together to build a fairer world order and advance a community with a shared future for humanity. 🌏✨
5 Key Principles
- Sovereign equality: Every nation has a seat at the table—no one is “on the menu.”
- International rule of law: Fairness and justice guided by international law.
- Multilateralism: Joint consultation, contribution, and shared benefits.
- People-centered approach: Putting citizens at the heart of decision making.
- Action orientation: Addressing root causes and symptoms with practical, coordinated measures.
Bridging the Governance Gap
China’s Global Governance Initiative tackles today’s leadership challenges by complementing three sister plans launched in recent years: the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative. Together, they defend the United Nations-centered system, uphold international law, and promote cooperation under the UN Charter’s principles. 🤝
Roots in Ancient Wisdom
At its core, the word “governance” (治理) combines the ideas of dynamic balance (治) and guiding principles (理), reflecting millennia of Chinese thought. This harmony is echoed in:
- Confucianism: Moral leadership and “rule without ruling.”
- Taoism: Non-intervention and aligning with natural laws.
- Legalism: Clear statutes to ensure fairness.
Three 'Co-' Concepts
- Co-existence: A shared enterprise rooted in domestic harmony.
- Co-action: Buddhist interdependence—solving one problem without creating another.
- Co-heaven: Taoist balance across past, present, and future, from climate change to AI governance.
Why It Matters for Young Global Citizens
In a world of rapid change, the Global Governance Initiative invites all nations—especially the Global South, home to over 80% of the population—to join a collective effort for a more just and sustainable future. 💡🌍
Reference(s):
Wang Yiwei: Chinese philosophy in Global Governance Initiative
cgtn.com
