CHINA marked the first anniversary of the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) on Sept. 1, 2026, following its initial proposal by President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Plus meeting in Tianjin on Sept. 1, 2025.
The initiative was launched during the80th-anniversary year of the United Nations (UN) to address modern global governance deficits, geopolitical tensions and economic fragmentation.
GGI is China’s fourth major global proposal, following the Global Development Initiative, which was proposed by Xi on Sept. 21, 2021 during the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly; Global Security Initiative, introduced on April 21, 2022; and Global Civilization Initiative, launched on March 16, 2023.
With its five core principles – Sovereign Equality, International Rule of Law, Multilateralism, People-Centered Approach and Action-Orientedness – GGI has drawn widespread backing from numerous countries and international organizations, including support from the UN leadership.
Equitable global governance framework
On Feb. 24, 2026,the Xinhua Institute, a think tank affiliated with Xinhua News Agency released a report titled “Upholding International Justice and Jointly Addressing World Turbulence — Focusing on China’s Solution to Global Governance” at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.
The report delved into the crucial global question: What kind of global governance system should be built, and how should global governance be reformed and improved?
It provided a comprehensive and systematic explanation of GGI, offering insights into China’s vision for a more just and equitable global governance framework.
According to the report, the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation.
Unilateralism, protectionism and hegemonism are on the rise, while deficits in peace, development, security and governance continue to grow.
Problems related to the authority, representativeness and effectiveness of the global governance system have become more pronounced.
Against this backdrop, reforming and improving the global governance system has emerged as a primary shared concern for the international community.
The report emphasized that, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, a natural member of the Global South and the world’s largest developing country, China remains committed to being a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, a defender of the international order and a provider of public goods.
The report said GGI offers China’s solution to building a more just and equitable global governance system, and injects impetus into revitalizing the central role and leadership of the United Nations.
The report noted that the five core concepts of the initiative are fully aligned with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, address the world’s most pressing needs, and have received responses and support from more than 100 countries and international organizations.
China will firmly uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law, resolutely stand on the right side of history’s progress, and advance shoulder to shoulder with all progressive forces around the world, the report said.
It affirmed that China will continue advancing the building of a community with a shared future for humanity and make unremitting efforts towards the noble cause of peace and development for all humanity.
It is noted that Xinhua Institute, with policy research as its primary focus, has conducted forward-looking, strategic and preparatory research on major domestic and global issues in recent years, producing numerous influential research outcomes.
Stronger representation for developing countries
In an article published by chinadiplomacy.org.cn. Bangladeshi independent researcher, freelance columnist and strategic and security affairs analyst Moulik Jahan said that with the backing of nearly 160 countries, the next phase of GGI will carry that support into financing, digital rules and stronger representation for developing countries.
“On this measure, the GGI is beginning to matter not as an alternative world order, but as a platform for making the existing multilateral system more representative, functional and capable of delivering results,” he wrote.
“Do countries have a meaningful voice? Are rules applied consistently? Can states cooperate despite political differences? And do international agreements eventually improve people’s lives?” he asked.
He the explained, “The latest development data explain why these questions have become urgent. The UN 2025 Sustainable Development Goals assessment found that only 18 percent of assessable SDG targets were on track, while 48 percent were progressing insufficiently and another 18 percent had regressed. Developing countries face an annual SDG financing gap of more than $4 trillion.”
“The world, in other words, has become remarkably good at setting global objectives but much less successful at providing the money, technology and institutions needed to achieve them,” he said.
“This is where the GGI’s emphasis on ‘real actions’ acquires substance. According to a new white paper released by China’s State Council Information Office in June, nearly 160 countries and international organizations had expressed support for the initiative, while more than 60 countries had joined the Group of Friends of Global Governance,” Jahan highlighted.
Launched at the UN headquarters in December 2025, the group started with 43 founding members and has since expanded its activities in Geneva, Vienna and other international venues.
“The significance lies not in the numbers alone. It is that the GGI is developing a political channel through which countries can discuss how the existing system should change,” the Bangladeshi researcher-analyst said.
