China's Global Governance Initiative wins wide praise

Foreign officials and experts have spoken highly of China's Global Governance Initiative, saying it responds to the shared aspirations of people around the world, meets the pressing needs of the times, and injects fresh momentum into building a fairer, more just, and more inclusive international order.

They made the remarks at the Global Governance Roundtable for Shanghai Cooperation Organization Countries 2025, held in Beijing on Thursday.

United Nations Resident Coordinator in China Siddharth Chatterjee said the initiative underscores that all countries, regardless of size, wealth or strength, are both participants in and beneficiaries of global governance. This fully aligns with the principles enshrined in the UN Charter and the direction of a fair and just global governance system, he said.

Chatterjee noted that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the world body and that the globe faces profound transformation and mounting challenges including the digital divide, climate change, geopolitical tensions and widening inequality.

The GGI provides a forward-looking framework that brings countries together and calls for greater voice for developing nations, as well as deeper consultation and broader consensus on issues concerning science, technology, human well-being and global governance, he said.

Former foreign minister of Kyrgyzstan Alikbek Jekshenkulov said the current era is one of interdependence, where solving global challenges requires "cooperation rather than competition".

He noted that the ideas embodied in the GGI - inclusiveness, fairness, justice, cooperation and respect for sovereignty - are highly consistent with the values upheld by Central Asian countries.

Describing the initiative as a bridge for common development among different models, he said it opens new space for dialogue and practical cooperation.

Secretary-General of the SCO Nurlan Yermekbayev said the GGI shares much common ground with the Shanghai Spirit, as both stress respect for sovereignty, equality among nations, observance of international law, and adherence to multilateralism. He expressed the belief that the initiative will gain broad support within the SCO countries.

In a video address to the event, Jamshed Toshev, deputy director of SCO Center of Friendship and Cooperation in Tajikistan, said the world is undergoing rapid changes and profound contradictions, and that traditional models of international interaction can no longer meet the new realities.

The world urgently needs to explore new forms of global governance based on equality, inclusiveness and mutual respect — the very core values upon which the GGI is founded, he said.

Toshev believed that the initiative's unique strength lies in its multilateral and cooperative nature, as it provides a common platform for dialogue and collaboration among all countries.

He also noted that the GGI echoes the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity and creates new opportunities for cooperation in sustainable development, energy and food security, education and talent cultivation, scientific and technological innovation, as well as cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

Sohail Mahmood, director-general of the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad, said Pakistan has supported the GGI from the very beginning, as it helps address the underrepresentation of developing countries and the Global South in international governance, and responds to challenges such as the erosion of international law and the weakening of global institutions.

He added that the initiative also reflects China's growing global role. China's series of major global initiatives embody the country's wisdom, offering stability and direction in a time of uncertainty, and contributing to a fairer, more balanced and multipolar global order, he said.