China’s Global Governance Initiative continues to gain 'traction'

Ma Yan Yuqing, Consul General of the Peoples Republic of China

China’s Global Governance Initiative Gains Momentum Amid Global Uncertainty

China’s Global Governance Initiative (GGI), unveiled by President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus Meeting in Tianjin on September 1, 2025, is rapidly gaining traction across the international community, particularly among nations in the Global South.

As the world grapples with rising geopolitical tensions, economic fragmentation, and governance deficits, the GGI has emerged as a timely blueprint for reforming the global order and promoting inclusive multilateralism.

The initiative builds on China’s earlier frameworks, the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative, and proposes a comprehensive approach to global governance rooted in five core principles: sovereign equality, adherence to international rule of law, multilateralism, a people-centered approach, and a commitment to real, actionable outcomes. These principles aim to address systemic flaws in the current Western-led international system, which many developing nations view as exclusionary and outdated.

President Xi’s proposal has been met with widespread approval. During a virtual BRICS summit on September 8, leaders from Russia, South Africa, Egypt, Iran, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, India, Ethiopia, and Brazil praised the GGI for its clarity, relevance, and alignment with the aspirations of the Global South.

The initiative has also received endorsements from countries such as Malaysia, Slovakia, Nicaragua, Cuba, and Nepal, as well as support from international bodies including the United Nations.

China’s Consul General in Lagos, Ma Yan Yuqing, emphasized that the GGI represents a new public good for the international community, designed to counteract the growing threats of protectionism, unilateralism, and hegemonism.

She noted that the initiative seeks to restore the central role of the United Nations in global governance and ensure that all countries, regardless of size or wealth, have equal voices in shaping international norms.

The GGI’s appeal lies in its promise to democratize global decision-making and empower developing nations to participate meaningfully in shaping the future. It calls for reforming institutions to better reflect the realities of a multipolar world and advocates for coordinated global action to tackle shared challenges such as climate change, digital inequality, and economic instability.

Nigeria’s endorsement of the GGI further underscores its growing influence. As Africa’s largest economy and a key strategic partner for China, Nigeria views the initiative as a valuable platform for advancing its national development goals and contributing to a fairer global order.

The alignment between the GGI and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 highlights the initiative’s resonance with continental aspirations for peace, prosperity, and inclusive governance.

As the world marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, China’s Global Governance Initiative stands as a bold response to the question of how to build a more just and equitable international system.

Its growing support reflects a collective desire to move beyond outdated paradigms and toward a future defined by cooperation, mutual respect, and shared responsibility.