Why China-proposed Global Governance Initiative is gaining broad international support

Against the backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions, worsening climate risks, and mounting concerns over the governance of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, the world is confronting a confluence of longstanding and new challenges. These pressures have further exposed the widening global governance deficit, placing unprecedented strain on existing international mechanisms.

A United Nations (UN) report released in July 2025, which assesses progress toward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, offered a sobering assessment: of its 169 specific targets, only about 35 percent are on track, nearly half are advancing too slowly, and 18 percent have regressed.

Against this backdrop, China put forward the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) in September 2025, presenting a set of principles and pathways to reform and enhance global governance at this critical juncture.

The initiative is anchored in five core principles: adhering to sovereign equality, abiding by the international rule of law, practicing multilateralism, advocating a people-centered approach, and focusing on taking concrete actions.

Collectively, these principles outline a normative framework and a practical roadmap for addressing the four major deficits of our era – those in peace, development, security, and governance.

Since its launch, the GGI has elicited swift and positive responses from the international community. Over 150 countries and international organizations have expressed their welcome and support for the initiative.

In December 2025, the Group of Friends of the Global Governance was formally established. The group seeks to strengthen dialogue and cooperation on major global governance issues, pool collective wisdom, and coordinate actions to advance global governance reform. To date, 43 countries have joined the group, underscoring growing interest in translating shared principles into coordinated multilateral action.

International figures have underscored the initiative's appeal for addressing global challenges.

Erik Solheim, former UN Under-Secretary-General, characterized China as a key participant in global dialogue. He noted that the core value of the GGI lies in articulating principles capable of gaining broad international acceptance.

Solheim pointed out these principles are recognized not only by major Global South countries such as India, Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia, but also by several European nations. He added that these principles could serve as important cornerstones for future global development, guiding the international community toward greater equality and peace and helping build a global system that respects national sovereignty, rejects interference in internal affairs, and places people at its core.

Alexander Lomanov, deputy director at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences, said the initiative aligns with the times and meets the world's needs. By upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, he argued, the initiative strengthens collective efforts to safeguard the UN's authority and further improve multilateral cooperation frameworks in global governance.

Lomanov also emphasized that the initiative addresses widespread concerns among developing countries by advocating for international systems and mechanisms that better serve the interests of all nations, particularly those of the Global South.

Similar views were echoed by Kin Phea, director general of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia, a think tank under the Royal Academy of Cambodia. He noted that the GGI emphasizes coordinated global action and pragmatic cooperation to avoid governance paralysis and fragmentation, offering concrete pathways to enhance developing countries' representation and voice in global affairs.

Adel Abdul Mahdi, former Prime Minister of Iraq, emphasized that the GGI underscores respect for sovereignty and dignity, regardless of a country's size, strength, or level of development, and firmly opposes interference in internal affairs. At its core, global governance is about multilateralism, he said, adding that the GGI embodies the principles of equal participation in international affairs, joint construction of international systems, and shared development.

A consistent theme across international assessments of the GGI is China's focus on translating shared principles into tangible action.

Mahdi highlighted China's active role in advancing cooperation through multilateral frameworks such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS, as well as its efforts to promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. Under the guidance of the GGI, he added, countries can work together to address global challenges and steer global governance toward a more just and equitable direction.

Essam Sharaf, former prime minister of Egypt, emphasized that the GGI is urgently needed in a world beset by division and uncertainty, noting that China attaches great importance to action-oriented approaches in its engagement with global governance.

Sharaf cited China's efforts to advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, facilitate Saudi-Iran reconciliation, and establish the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed). He said the Saudi-Iran reconciliation, achieved through dialogue, offers a compelling example of conflict resolution through diplomacy and stands as a model for regional peace. The creation of an international mediation body, meanwhile, demonstrates how institutionalized, dialogue-based mechanisms can contribute to resolving disputes and promoting peaceful development.

Chea Munyrith, president of the Cambodian Chinese Evolution Researcher Association, stated that China has demonstrated its role as a responsible major country in international affairs, serving as a stable and constructive force in global governance.

He noted that China has played a constructive role in safeguarding regional peace and stability, including helping consolidate the ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand, underscoring China's active and pragmatic engagement in international governance.