On September 1, President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) at the "Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus" Meeting held in Tianjin. The GGI is the fourth landmark global initiative proposed by Xi, following the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilizations Initiative. The GGI addresses a pressing need within the global community to find a more just and equitable governance system that embraces the emergence of Global South countries.

The GGI was proposed on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the founding of the UN. Faced with challenges such as the resurgence of Cold War mentality and the rise of unilateralism, the global governance system must adapt to remain effective.

The GGI encompasses five core concepts: sovereign equality, international rule of law, multilateralism, a people-centered approach and real results. These five core concepts stem from the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and respond to the shared aspiration of the majority of countries. The GGI is being welcomed by UN Secretary General António Guterres, who said the initiative is anchored in multilateralism.

Actions under the GGI are expected to focus on three aspects. The first is reforming the global governance system and institutions to increase the share and say of developing countries in international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the World Trade Organization. The second is placing priority on climate governance, AI, global public health, digital governance and other global issues. The third is building partnerships to help the Global South better integrate into the global system through South-South cooperation, development financing and capacity building.

The GGI and the three other global initiatives China has proposed provide a pathway and institutional support for building a community with a shared future for humanity. To reform and improve global governance, of course, does not mean to overturn the existing international order or to create another central framework to replace the current international system. China calls for safeguarding the international system with the UN at its core and the international order underpinned by international law. Its goal is to make the global governance system more effective and responsive to emerging changes and challenges.