Wang Yiwei: Chinese philosophy in Global Governance Initiative

Editor's note: In November 2014, at the first Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs following the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized that China must pursue a major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics. CGTN invited Wang Yiwei, Jean Monnet Chair Professor and Vice President of the Academy of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era at Renmin University of China, to share his insights on this from a global governance perspective.

On September 1, 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Governance Initiative at the "Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Plus" Meeting held in Tianjin, urging all countries to work together to build a more just and reasonable global governance system and to jointly advance toward a community with a shared future for humanity. The initiative emphasizes five key principles:

​​Uphold sovereign equality: Sovereign equality is the primary prerequisite for global governance. It rejects the Western "survival of the fittest" logic of "either at the table or on the menu," insisting that every nation has a seat at the table while issues appear on the agenda.

​​Observe international rule of law: International law is the fundamental guideline, embodying fairness and justice.

​​Practice multilateralism: Multilateralism is the basic pathway; genuine multilateralism requires joint consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits.

​​Advocate a people-centered approach: This value orientation is the key criterion for judging the effectiveness of global governance.

​​Emphasize action orientation: Drawing wisdom from traditional Chinese medicine, it calls for coordinated, comprehensive measures that address both symptoms and root causes, avoiding empty talk and the side‑effects of "Western medicine."

Focus on current governance deficit

​​Global Development Initiative​​ focuses on promoting international development cooperation.

​​Global Security Initiative aims at resolving international disputes through dialogue and negotiation.

​​Global Civilization Initiative seeks to foster civilizational exchange and mutual learning.

​​Global Governance Initiative anchors the direction, principles and pathways for reforming the global governance system.

China's Global Governance Initiative specifically addresses today's governance deficit, concentrating on the pressing question of "what kind of global governance system should be built and how it should be reformed and improved." Together with the other three initiatives, it defends the United Nations‑centered international system, the international order based on international law, and the basic norms of international relations derived from the UN Charter's purposes and principles.

By practicing the concept of "consultation, contribution and shared benefits," the initiative seeks to construct a more just and reasonable global governance system and advance toward a community with a shared future for humanity, standing in stark contrast to the Western models of global development, security, civilization and governance.

Philosophical foundations in Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism

The Chinese characters for "governance" (治理) reflect millennia of Chinese contemplation on ideal order. According to Shuowen Jiezi [a comprehensive Chinese character dictionary compiled nearly two millennia ago]:

治 (zhì) is derived from "the sound of water on a platform; water flows from the east, curves around the city, and enters the sea."

理 (lǐ) is "to manage jade; derived from the sound of jade within."

Combined, these characters convey the core logic of Chinese‑style governance: ​​治 ​​emphasizes dynamic balance and regulation (like water), while ​理​​ stresses adherence to underlying principles (like jade patterns). Governance, therefore, is the wisdom of acting in harmony with the Way 道.

This view is manifested in traditional Chinese thought:

​​Confucianism​​: Moral governance through virtuous example, achieving "rule without ruling."

​​Taoism​​: Non‑interventionist governance, aligning with natural and social laws.

​​Legalism: Rule of law through clear statutes to ensure fairness.

Thus, 治理 embodies guidance and conformity rather than coercion, and discovery of intrinsic laws rather than arbitrary creation. Contemporary Chinese social governance still reflects this dual emphasis: respecting principles in institutional design (理) and maintaining balance in policy implementation (治), aspiring to a harmonious "unity of heaven and humanity."

Three 'co‑' principles derived from Chinese traditions

​​Co‑existence (共生)​​ reflects the Confucian principle of "self‑cultivation, family harmony, state governance, and world peace." Global governance must begin with sound domestic governance, preventing negative externalities from spilling abroad. The world belongs to all peoples; governance is a shared enterprise.

​​Co‑action (共业)​​ is inspired by Buddhist interdependence. It stresses that solving one problem must not generate new ones. "One flower, one world; one leaf, one Buddha." Sustainable development and a holistic view are essential to avoid secondary disasters, embodying good governance.

​​Co‑heaven (共天)​​ echoes Taoist harmony with nature. It calls for integrated governance of past, present and future. "Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish." We must address longstanding issues such as climate change while simultaneously tackling emerging challenges like AI governance, adopting a parallel, systematic approach.

China's confidence and contribution

China's confidence in proposing the Global Governance Initiative stems from its own model of modernization and its rich traditional culture. Building on experiences in rural, urban, regional and national governance, China advocates a "community of shared responsibility, duty and benefit." 

On the global stage, it promotes a new governance concept of "consultation, contribution and shared benefits" through platforms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS and the Belt and Road Initiative, embodying the spirit of "mutual assistance and shared destiny."

The Global Governance Initiative contrasts sharply with the U.S. and Western views on global governance, much like the difference between traditional Chinese and Western medicine.

In Book VI of Plato's Republic, Socrates tells a metaphorical story about a captain who is both deaf and blind, with insufficient nautical knowledge. As a result, the crew becomes embroiled in a debate about who should take the helm, which ultimately leads to the ship being unable to steer in the right direction. 

The deeper meaning of Socrates' story is to remind us that leaders need both competence and charisma to guide a country in the right direction. In early Greek times, leaders were seen as the helmsmen of a ship. In fact, the English word "govern" is derived from the ancient Greek word "(kyberrαr)," which means "helmsman."

This is the root of the American concept of "American leadership" in global governance, which frequently emphasizes the U.S. role in steering the world.

However, true global governance is not the governance of the United States or the West, but a collective action by all nations – especially the Global South, which accounts for over 80  percent of the world's population – based on the UN Charter and universally accepted norms of international relations. Governance must follow the Taoist principle of "the highest virtue is like water," pursuing good governance for the common good. As the classic says, "When the great way is followed, the world is public."