Editor's note: Cheng Shujing, a special commentator for CGTN, is an assistant research fellow of the Department for Global Governance and International Institutions at China Institutes of International Studies. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Today, changes unseen in a century are unfolding at an accelerated pace. As transformation and turbulence compound, the existing global order is buckling under immense strain.

In response to this systemic crisis, Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) last September, presenting China's vision for collective reform. Since its launch, the initiative has gained broad international support. According to the white paper titled "More Just and Equitable Global Governance: China's Principles, Proposals and Actions" released on June 17, the GGI, upon its introduction, swiftly gained support from nearly 160 countries and international organizations, with over 60 countries joining the Group of Friends of Global Governance.

By systematically expounding on the background, context and significance of the GGI, the white paper further clarifies the essential principles and practical steps China is taking to steer the future of global governance and build a community of shared future for humanity.

The urgent demands for better governance

The current global governance system, forged in the ashes of World War II (WWII), has anchored global peace and development for the past eight decades. Today, however, its very foundation is beginning to fracture.

The existing system is proving increasingly ineffective against compounding global crises, ranging from entrenched geopolitical conflicts and economic stagnation to climate change. Advancements in frontier domains have introduced unprecedented risks, yet rules remain absent. Intense competition among major countries over cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and space exploration is intensifying, severely fragmenting international cooperation.

The authority of the UN-centered multilateral system is also rapidly eroding. Unilateral withdrawals and funding cuts by multiple international organizations and treaties have crippled the UN's authority and enforcement powers. With the UN Charter routinely violated, the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) openly defied, and unilateral sanctions proliferating, multilateralism and international rule of law are under severe strain.

The collective rise of the Global South further exposes the systemic deficit in representation. The voice and representation of developing countries in global institutions lag far behind their economic weight and global contributions, thereby blocking progress on critical governance issues.

China's vision for global governance reform

The GGI provides China's strategic framework for addressing these growing deficits. Far from seeking to overturn or replace the existing global system, the GGI aims to reform it from within, making it fairer, more inclusive and better aligned with today's realities. The initiative is fully consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. It draws heavily on China's traditional culture, its fine diplomatic traditions and its own governance experience.

Its five core concepts offer profound guiding significance for global governance reform.

The principle of sovereign equality is conducive to advancing the democratization of international relations. It rejects hegemonic bullying of smaller, weaker nations and an unequal world order dominated by a few global powers, while advocating for greater representation and a stronger voice for developing countries in international affairs.

Upholding the international rule of law is essential to restoring the sanctity of global norms. The GGI calls for the equal, uniform and non-selective application of international law, rooted in the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the universally recognized basic norms governing international relations. It draws a clear line against double standards, the selective enforcement of rules driven by self-interest and the imposition of one country's own domestic rules on others.

Practicing multilateralism is key to building greater solidarity and cooperation worldwide. The GGI advocates a vision of global governance based on extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits for international affairs. It firmly upholds the central role of the United Nations and resolutely opposes the establishment of parallel structures outside the UN system, as well as the formation of exclusive blocs and cliques.

The people-centered approach ensures that governance delivers inclusive, universally beneficial outcomes. To improve the well-being of the global majority, development must be placed at the very core of the international agenda, while structural economic inequalities and widespread development gaps must be decisively addressed.

The commitment to real results is vital to driving pragmatic, efficient global governance. This demands systematic planning and coordinated execution to manage the global agenda and deliver concrete cooperative outcomes that overcome the ineffectiveness and fragmentation of international institutions.

Walking the talk

The GGI is no mere diplomatic rhetoric but an actionable framework backed by concrete measures. China has been a major contributor to global public goods. The white paper systematically charts China's established contributions to global governance. The implementation of the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) – alongside the other Three Global Initiatives – has been formally incorporated into China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), demonstrating China's enduring resolve to advance global governance reform.

During the meeting of the Group of Friends of Global Governance held last month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi outlined reforms across nine areas to build broader consensus and develop actionable measures, delineating a concrete roadmap for the near term.

The proposal and practice of the GGI demonstrate China's commitment as a responsible major power. Transcending zero-sum thinking, the GGI echoes the aspirations of the global majority – particularly the Global South – to reinvigorate multilateralism, build a more just and equitable international order and thereby inject invaluable stability and predictability into a world plagued by volatility and turbulence.

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