Editor's note: Zhao Yunfei is a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN. The article reflects the author's views and not necessarily those of CGTN.

The world in 2026 feels increasingly unsettled. Conflicts continue to erupt across regions, economic pressure is used more openly as a political tool, and long-standing alliances are under strain.

Against this backdrop, the question confronting policymakers is no longer whether the global order is changing, but what will replace it.

That question was covered in Foreign Minister Wang Yi's press conference Sunday during the Two Sessions. The press conference touched on everything from conflicts in the Middle East to China's bilateral ties. Yet beneath the many topics ran a single theme: China wants multilateralism to remain the principle of international relations.

As the global system becomes more complex and power becomes more widely distributed, no country, no matter how strong, can manage global challenges alone. The alternative to cooperation, China believes, is a world drifting toward fragmentation and confrontation.

The foundation of global order

At the press conference, Wang repeatedly returned to two words: rules and order. The emphasis was not accidental. “China calls on more countries to participate in and support the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) and to work together to revitalize the UN, defend the UN and make the UN stronger,” he said.

The message reflects China's long-standing view that global governance should center on the United Nations rather than on geopolitical blocs. From this perspective, reforming and strengthening the UN system, rather than dismantling it, is seen as the most practical path forward.

This position resonates in today's world. For many countries, particularly smaller and developing nations, the UN remains the only forum where their voices carry the same formal weight as those of major powers.

Concerns about the erosion of global rules are also echoed by humanitarian organizations and legal experts. Balthasar Staehelin of the International Committee of the Red Cross told CGTN that the weakening of international law has already had devastating consequences.

"If you look at international law, we are particularly concerned about the law of conflict," he said. "Unfortunately, we see insufficient respect for this law across the globe, which creates enormous suffering and reduces the prospects to regain peace, development, and stability."

In that sense, China's emphasis on multilateral governance reflects a broader global anxiety. As geopolitical competition intensifies, maintaining shared rules becomes harder, but also more necessary.

Dialogue, not force

The Middle East is one region where these tensions are increasingly evident. "Seeing the Middle East engulfed in flames, I want to say this is a war that should never have happened, and one that benefits no one," Wang said. "Force is not the way to resolve problems. Resorting to arms will only breed new hatred and new crises."

China's response has been to emphasize diplomacy rather than intervention. China's Foreign Ministry says it has communicated with various actors in the region, and is dispatching a special envoy to encourage dialogue.

The approach reflects a broader Chinese principle that sustainable solutions to geopolitical crises must come through negotiation.

For some countries, particularly in the Global South, this approach carries appeal. It places sovereignty and international law at the center of crisis management. Venezuelan Ambassador to China Remigio Ceballos framed China's stance in precisely those terms. "As long as all countries keep international law, there will be peace in the world," Ceballos told CGTN. "We can see that China is a leader in this area."

The emphasis on dialogue underscores that as global tensions rise, there is a growing demand for powerful nations to act as stabilizers rather than accelerators of conflict.

Search for a new global balance

For decades, international politics was seen as a system dominated by a single superpower. Today, that narrative appears increasingly outdated. China's GGI aims to ensure that the voices of the Global South are more fully represented in international decision-making.

GGI promotes cooperation rather than geopolitical confrontation. Helga Zepp-LaRouche, founder of the Schiller Institute, a political and economic think tank, argues that initiatives like this seek to move beyond the zero-sum mindset that has long influenced global politics.

"Geopolitics was the main reason for the two world wars in the 20th century," she told CGTN. "It is extremely important to overcome regional and historical conflicts by establishing a higher level of cooperation."

In practical terms, China has sought to institutionalize dialogue through new platforms. The recently launched "Group of Friends of Global Governance," for example, aims to strengthen communication among countries working within the United Nations framework.

The latest government work report delivered during the Two Sessions reaffirmed China's goal of promoting "an equal and orderly multipolar world."

"As the world's most important force for peace, stability, and justice, we have full confidence in the future of humanity," Wang said. "We stand ready to work with all like-minded countries to pursue the goal of building a community with a shared future for humanity."

In an era challenged by geopolitical rivalry and uncertainty, China is positioning itself as a proponent of multilateral cooperation.

(Feng Yilei also contributed to this article.)

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