At a time when the world is filled with uncertainty and instability, coupled with mistrust and rising polarization, the international community must safeguard the UN Charter and uphold the international rule of law, the Group of Friends of Global Governance said on Wednesday.

At the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization, the group said in a joint statement that, faced with major choices between peace and conflict, progress and regression, order and chaos, the world once again stands at a new crossroads.

Against this backdrop, the full implementation of the mandate of the special committee – to strengthen the role of the United Nations for the maintenance of international peace and security, the development of cooperation and the promotion of the norms of international law – "is more urgent than ever," said the statement, delivered by China on behalf of the 49 members of the Group of Friends of Global Governance.

"The Charter is the fundamental guideline for conducting international relations and the cornerstone of the international order. The basic norms of international law, including sovereign equality, non-interference in internal affairs, and the prohibition of the use of force, as enshrined in the Charter, must be respected and implemented," the group said.

"All states, regardless of size, strength or wealth, are equal. Mutual respect and peaceful coexistence should prevail," it said, calling upon all parties to uphold the international order underpinned by international law, ensure an equal and consistent application of international norms, and reject double standards and selective application.

Multilateralism and real actions urged

The group called for practicing genuine multilateralism and taking an action-oriented approach, emphasizing that multilateralism remains the core concept of the existing international system and order, and the United Nations serves as the central platform for global governance.

It also called for upholding the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with Chapter VI of the UN Charter and opposing unilateral sanctions. Article 33 of the Charter sets out multiple means of dispute settlement, and the group emphasized that the right to freely choose them should be respected.

"Any attempt to impose one's will upon others by coercion, threat or use of force in international relations must be rejected," the group said.

In the statement, the group noted the establishment of the International Organization for Mediation in October 2025 in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China, which provides additional options for the peaceful settlement of international disputes, and the adoption of the Security Council's Resolution 2788 on the peaceful settlement of disputes.

"The Group of Friends of Global Governance stands ready to work with all parties to jointly safeguard the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, support the central role and preserve the intergovernmental character of the United Nations, and promote a more just, inclusive and equitable global governance system," the statement said.

The Group of Friends of Global Governance was officially established at the UN headquarters in New York on December 9, 2025, in a significant step in implementing the Global Governance Initiative proposed by China.

(With input from Xinhua)