Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday proposed the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) at the SCO plus leaders’ summit as he advocated practising multilateralism.
Xi, while addressing the SCO leaders’ summit, said, “I wish to propose the Global Governance Initiative (GGI). I look forward to working with all countries for a more just and equitable global governance system and advancing toward a community with a shared future for humanity.”
Xi pressed his vision for a new global security and economic order that prioritises the “Global South”.
He said, “First, we should adhere to sovereign equality. We should maintain that all countries, regardless of size, strength and wealth, are equal participants, decision-makers and beneficiaries in global governance. We should promote greater democracy in international relations and increase the representation and voice of developing countries.”
Second, Xi said, “We should abide by international rule of law. The purposes and principles of the UN Charter and other universally recognised basic norms of international relations must be observed comprehensively, fully and in their entirety. International law and rules should be applied equally and uniformly. There should be no double standards, and the house rules of a few countries must not be imposed upon others.”
Third, he said, “we should practice multilateralism. We should uphold the vision of global governance featuring extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, strengthen solidarity and coordination, and oppose unilateralism. We should firmly safeguard the status and authority of the UN, and ensure its irreplaceable, key role in global governance.”
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The statements come ahead of the Victory Day parade in Beijing on Wednesday.
The meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation security group coincides with the 80th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in the second world war, which China will mark on Wednesday.
Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un are among leaders who will attend a lavish parade where China will show off military hardware.
Addressing SCO leaders, Xi said, “We should seek common ground while putting aside differences. Shared aspirations are the source of strength and advantage, and the will to seek commonality while shelving differences reflects vision and wisdom. SCO member states are all friends and partners. We should respect our differences, maintain strategic communication, build up consensus, and strengthen solidarity and collaboration.”
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The Chinese President said, “We should uphold fairness and justice. We must promote a correct historical perspective on World War II, and oppose the Cold War mentality… and bullying practices. We should safeguard the UN-centered international system, and support the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core. We should advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation, and make the global governance system more just and equitable.” “As a Chinese saying goes, ‘where will prevails, no boundary holds’, let us stay true to SCO’s founding mission, step up to undertake our duties, promote the sound and sustained development of the SCO with greater resolve and more practical measures, and march steadily toward a brighter tomorrow of a community with a shared future for humanity,” the Chinese President said.
