China’s proposal for the reform of the global governance system
FAN YONG | Monday September 15, 2025 12:45
To answer this question, Chinese President Xi Jinping solemnly proposed the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) at the 'Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Plus' Meeting in Tianjin early this month, offering Chinese wisdom and solutions for strengthening and improving the global governance system.
The initiative is guided by five core principles: adhering to sovereign equality, abiding by international rule of law, practicing multilateralism, advocating the people-centered approach, and focusing on taking real actions. These principles are in line with the purposes and principles of the United Nations (U.N.) Charter, aiming to firmly support the U.N.'s central role in international affairs, and encourage all countries to participate in the reform and development of the global governance system within multilateral mechanisms.
The GGI comes at the right time. Currently, the world today is undergoing accelerated changes unseen in a century, with frequent regional turmoil, impeded economic development, backlash against globalization, gaps in rules and rule of law, and an intensifying deficit in governance. Against this backdrop, the questions of what kind of global governance system to build and how to reform and improve the global governance system have increasingly become major topics of high concern to the international community. The proposal of the GGI is both timely and crucial, responding to the common aspirations of people in all countries and meeting the urgent needs of the world today. Since its proposal, the GGI has been welcomed and supported by leaders of participating countries and international organizations, and will surely gain broad recognition from the international community.
The GGI points the way forward. The core concepts of the GGI elucidate the principles, methods, and pathways that need to be followed to reform and improve global governance. Sovereign equality is the foremost premise of global governance. All countries, regardless of size, strength, or wealth, have the equal right to participate in international affairs. The unequal situation in which a few countries monopolize global governance should no longer continue. International law is the fundamental safeguard for global governance. International law and international rules are common standards, which should be jointly formulated, maintained, and implemented by all countries, and there is no and should be no exception. Multilateralism is the basic pathway of global governance. Global governance is a matter for all countries and concerns the vital interests of each country. It needs coordination and cooperation rather than unilateralism and bullying. The people-centered approach is the underpinning value of global governance. At its core, global governance is about turning people's longing for a better life into reality and jointly building a world in which all can enjoy affluence and contentment. Taking real actions is an important principle of global governance. The vitality of global governance comes from practice, with the key lying in action and the ultimate test in results. It is necessary to focus on both the present and the long term, and to address the practical issues concerned by all countries, especially the vast number of developing countries.
The GGI demonstrates responsibility. As a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, China has consistently fulfilled its international obligations. President Xi Jinping, with an all-round consideration of this changing world and a sense of global responsibility, has successively put forth, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative, calling on all countries to work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind and build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world of lasting peace, universal security and shared prosperity, thus charting the course for the future of humanity. The GGI is another important global public good that China has contributed to the world following the other three major global initiatives. Each of the four global initiatives has its own focus, yet they are mutually reinforcing, addressing development, security, civilization, and governance, respectively. Together, they inject stability and certainty into a turbulent world, showcasing China's responsibility and actions in international affairs.
Botswana is an important member of the Global South and an important partner for China to jointly promote the unity and invigoration of the Global South. The Botswana government under the leadership of President Advocate Duma Boko, has defined Botswana’s foreign policy priorities with greater focus on promoting human rights and multilateralism. The friendship between China and Botswana has withstood the test of history. The two sides stand united in cooperation on the path toward modernization, and share similar views on major international and regional issues. We both respect the diversity of human rights civilizations, oppose the politicization and instrumentalization of human rights issues. Both China and Botswana respect the right to choose our own path of development based on national conditions and historical-cultural traditions. We also hold similar views on principles such as non-interference of domestic affairs, all countries are equal regardless of size, strength, or wealth.
Facing a world of changes and chaos, China will continue to stand on the right side of history, on the side of human progress, and on the side of multilateralism, advocating unity and cooperation rather than division and confrontation. We would like to work together with Botswana under the framework of the GGI to enhance policy communication and coordination, so as to build extensive consensus and enrich the methods and pathways for reforming and improving global governance, so as to promote the creation of a community with a shared future for humanity and achieve a truly united world.
*Fan Yong is Chinese Ambassador to Botswana.