Esther Imonmion
The Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Lagos, Ma Yan Yuqing, has reaffirmed China’s commitment to reshaping the international order, following the launch of the Global Governance Initiative by President Xi Jinping at the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Plus Meeting.
The initiative, which builds on China’s earlier Global Development, Global Security, and Global Civilisation Initiatives, is positioned as a “new public good” for the international community. It seeks to address pressing global challenges, respond to the concerns of the Global South, and provide what Chinese officials describe as a “grand blueprint” for reforming international governance.
Yan noted that the world is grappling with widening deficits in peace, security, development, and governance, while rising protectionism and unilateralism undermine cooperation. “Some countries recklessly wield tariffs as weapons and attempt to fragment the interdependent global economy,” she said, warning that such actions threaten global stability.
President Xi’s initiative is anchored on five key principles. These include sovereign equality, ensuring that all countries, regardless of size or wealth, have equal voices in decision-making; respect for international law, with full adherence to the UN Charter and rejection of double standards; and a firm commitment to multilateralism that upholds the central role of the United Nations. It also stresses a people-centred approach, designed to ensure that citizens worldwide are both participants and beneficiaries of governance, and a strong focus on action, aimed at strengthening systematic global cooperation with practical outcomes.
Chinese officials say the initiative underscores Beijing’s vision of fairer, more inclusive international relations.