China again

While we and millions of people are watching the world’s largest military parade of the Chinese army, which dazzles onlookers with its discipline, organization, movements, performance, weaponry, and strength, we remember that there is the Chinese Global Governance Initiative launched by President Xi Jinping: (Towards a more just and inclusive international order). Chinese President Xi Jinping had previously launched the Global Governance Initiative during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Plus summit in Tianjin.

This is the fourth initiative proposed by the Chinese president, following initiatives on global development, global security, and global civilization, forming a cornerstone of China's vision for building a multipolar international system based on justice, equality, and mutual cooperation. The initiative is particularly significant as it was launched at a very important and sensitive time, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and the 80th anniversary of the victory over fascism in World War II in 2025.

In this context, President Xi points out that the world is facing “a new stage of turmoil and transformation,” where the Cold War mentality and hegemony still haunt the international system, while new threats and challenges are escalating unprecedentedly, especially with US President Trump in power, who launched the principle of “peace through strength.” As announced, the initiative is comprised of five basic principles for a global governance project, as published on official websites.

1. Commitment to sovereign equality: All countries, regardless of their size, power, or wealth, should be equal partners in decision-making and benefiting from the outcomes of global governance. Xi stressed the rejection of “double standards” and the imposition of one country’s domestic rules on others.
2. Compliance with the rule of international law: Advocating for full adherence to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations as the basic rules of international relations, and the uniform and fair application of international law without selectivity.
3. Practicing multilateralism: The initiative emphasizes multilateralism as a fundamental path to global governance, while strengthening the role of the United Nations as a central platform for consultation and collective decision-making, and resisting unilateral practices.
4. Advocating for a people-centered approach: People should be the central focus of the governance process, and their well-being should be the ultimate benefit of any international policies or decisions.
5. Focus on taking concrete action: Effective governance solves real problems. The initiative calls for addressing the root causes of global challenges, not just the symptoms.

With developed countries assuming their responsibilities and providing more global resources and public goods, I do not believe that the initiative is merely a theoretical vision, but rather it is coupled with a number of practical mechanisms that aim to reduce dependence on traditional Western institutions and move towards a different East, starting with the establishment of a new development bank affiliated with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, to finance infrastructure projects and economic integration among members, with the aim of challenging the “financial hegemony” of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

• Providing concessional financing packages from China, including 2 billion yuan (about $280 million) in free aid, and 10 billion yuan (about $1.4 billion) in concessional loans to member states of the organization.
Strengthening technological and scientific cooperation by establishing a center for collaboration in artificial intelligence and technology, and inviting member states to participate in research across various sectors, has sparked considerable debate among those interested in global political and economic relations. This initiative has raised questions about its potential to offer a compelling alternative to the prevailing "zero-sum" mentality and provide a solution for reforming the international system from within, making it more equitable and representative of developing nations.

While others question its practical feasibility and ability to compete, China intends with this initiative to re-engineer the international landscape according to the principles of equality, multilateralism, and the rule of law. Therefore, it calls for a genuine global partnership that addresses the structural imbalances in the current system, places the interests of the people at its core, and seeks to build a “common future for mankind, determined by its own will,” far removed from the military fleets, wars, and infighting that have filled the East with blood for nearly half a century due to the American policy that seeks hegemony. We find that the success of this ambitious vision of China will ultimately depend on the extent to which the international community can adopt the spirit of solidarity and cooperation promoted by the initiative and on the support of the peoples of the region for it.