Youth Perspective: 'Sovereign equality' in the eyes of Syrian youth

On September 1, 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Plus Meeting held in Tianjin. In his address at the summit, President Xi outlined the core concepts of the initiative: adhering to sovereign equality, abiding by the international rule of law, practicing multilateralism, advocating a people-centered approach and focusing on taking real actions.

Gen Z from the United States, Syria, Palestine and Vietnam – drawing on their respective national backgrounds, educational experiences and life experiences – share their insights on global governance practices centered around the five aspects of the initiative.

In this episode, Syrian youths share their perspectives on "sovereign equality." Zain Al-Abidin believes that achieving equality, a fundamental and just principle governing countries' relations, would effectively bring peace. "It also gives every country, when it feels equal to another, the assurance that it is not weaker than any other country, and that no other state can occupy it," he said.