Tianjin, Sept 2: Chinese President Xi Jinping announced a new concept called the “Global Governance Initiative” (GGI) during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus (SCO Plus) meeting held in Tianjin on Monday.

Xi has already launched three initiatives under his leadership: the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI), and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI). Now, with GGI, China is adding another proposal to its foreign policy agenda.

In his address, Xi said he wants to work with all countries to build a fairer and more equal global governance system and move toward a community with a shared future for humanity. According to Global Times, he outlined five core principles of the GGI: upholding sovereign equality, following international law, practicing multilateralism, promoting a people-centered approach, and focusing on practical action. He stressed that GGI continues the goals of his earlier three initiatives on security, development, and civilization.

Xi emphasized greater representation for developing nations, a stronger commitment to multilateralism, and tearing down barriers instead of building them. Without naming the United States, he criticized its dominance, saying, “Rules set by a few countries cannot be imposed on everyone. We oppose unilateralism, Cold War thinking, and coercive practices.”

The meeting was attended by major leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Xi announced that China would provide 2 billion yuan in grants to SCO member states and extend 10 billion yuan in loans to the SCO banking consortium over the next three years. He urged members to harness the strength of China’s vast market, benefit from economic complementarities, and make trade and investment easier. He also called for a multipolar world order and a fair, inclusive global economy.

Putin’s backing
Supporting Xi’s remarks, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the SCO is laying the foundation for a new security system in Eurasia, one that will replace the old Europe-centered and Euro-Atlantic model. According to him, this system would consider the concerns of all countries, ensure balance, and prevent some powers from undermining others’ security in the name of protecting their own.

China’s three previous initiatives

  1. Global Development Initiative (GDI): Focuses on inclusive and sustainable growth, poverty reduction, education, green energy, digital access, and innovation. It also aims to provide financial and technical support to developing countries.
  2. Global Security Initiative (GSI): Promotes a shared, inclusive, cooperative, and sustainable approach to security. It stresses sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations, peaceful dialogue for conflict resolution, rejecting Cold War thinking, and opposing military alliances. China’s claim that Nepal supported the GSI has sparked debate in Kathmandu.
  3. Global Civilization Initiative (GCI): Aims to respect cultural diversity and promote exchanges among civilizations. It opposes imposing one system or model on others and challenges what Beijing sees as Western dominance in defining global values.

People’s News Monitoring Service