When global instability is on the rise, fresh ideas can spark real change. At the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in the port city of Tianjin in the Chinese mainland, Chinese President Xi Jinping rolled out his Global Governance Initiative (GGI), marking the largest gathering of leaders in the SCO's 24-year history.
Building on his previous Global Development, Global Security and Global Civilization Initiatives, President Xi framed the GGI around five core principles:
- Sovereign equality: Respecting each country’s independent decision-making
- International rule of law: Strengthening fair and transparent norms
- Multilateralism: Collaborating to solve shared challenges
- People-oriented approach: Prioritizing welfare and inclusivity
- Action orientation: Turning ideas into concrete results
This vision aligns with the broader “Community with a Shared Future for Humanity” concept. At a time of renewed conflicts, trade tensions and climate urgency, the world is calling for more just, efficient and democratic global governance.
United Nations Office for Project Services Executive Director Jorge Moreira Da Silva noted on the UN’s 80th anniversary: 'The world needs more global coordination and reinforcement of multilateralism. China plays a vital role.' Similarly, Siddharth Chartterjee, United Nations Resident Coordinator in China, told CGTN that 'What we need today is more global understanding. What we need today is more global solidarity.'
Looking ahead, the GGI invites nations to revisit calls for a fair international economic order—echoing voices from the Global South in the 1960s and 1970s—and to foster common development. Concrete steps from the SCO and initiatives that share growth benefits can help reshape an economic landscape where no one is left behind.
President Xi’s roadmap offers a fresh action plan for young leaders, entrepreneurs and global citizens eager to build a more connected and resilient world through solidarity and multilateral cooperation.
Reference(s):
President Xi's GGI: A new action plan for the world moving forward
cgtn.com
