Chinese President Xi Jinping unveiled the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) at the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, presenting it as a new framework for fairer and more inclusive international cooperation. 

Positioning itself as both a 'reformer' and a 'protector' of global order, China presents GCI as the fourth major foreign policy pillar after the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative.

Amidst geopolitical uncertainty and a decline in confidence in established power structures, China has presented its vision for a more equitable world in the form of an initiative. 

The GGI redefines the principles that underpin international engagement. Five core concepts underpin this approach: sovereign equality, respect for international law, genuine multilateralism, a people-centred approach and a commitment to practical outcomes.

According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, these ideas are not intended to replace the current system, but rather to improve it by making global institutions more representative, responsive and equitable. 

The GGI aims to modernise the world’s institutional system by moving it away from unilateralism and ideological confrontation.

The introduction of the GGI reflects an acknowledgement that the existing order, largely shaped after World War II, is no longer capable of managing today's complex global challenges. 

Global challenges such as climate crisis, digital governance and economic inequality demand cooperation and reform.

China’s message is that no single country should dominate the reform process and that all states, regardless of their size or wealth, deserve a say in shaping global outcomes.

A timely intervention

The timing of the GGI’s launch is significant. 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the UN, offering a chance for global reflection. 

The emergence of the GGI highlights the deeper truth that the world’s post-war institutions are no longer fit for purpose. 

As emphasised in this book by a Turkish academic, the frameworks that were established after 1945 and once celebrated as guarantors of peace and prosperity are now struggling to cope with the multifaceted crises of the 21st century.

The UN Security Council, for example, is frequently paralysed by the veto power of its five permanent members, preventing it from addressing major conflicts such as Russia’s war with Ukraine and Israel’s genocide in Gaza. 

This has fuelled global frustration and revived calls for reform.

Turkish President Recep........

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