Experts applaud China's quest for fairer global governance

Experts have responded with enthusiasm to China's vision of a United Nations-centered world in which geopolitical tensions are eased, protectionism is countered, and unilateralism discouraged.

In a white paper titled More Just and Equitable Global Governance: China's Principles, Proposals and Actions, Beijing has suggested nations support the Global Governance Initiative, or GGI, as a way to improve the UN-centered international system.

Under the comprehensive vision for reforming global governance, China argues that strengthening multilateralism and building a more just and equitable international order are essential if the world is to address growing deficits in peace, development, security, and trust that confront many nations.

The proposal calls for a larger voice for developing countries, a broader international consensus to be sought, more effective responses to shared challenges, and stronger global cooperation.

China also reaffirms in its proposal the continued central role of the UN in safeguarding the international order, based on international law.

Lawrence Loh, director of the Center for Governance and Sustainability at the National University of Singapore, described the white paper as "a most timely and critical statement for global governance now, even when the world is fragmenting and institutions of international cooperation are breaking down".

"The current deficits in global harmony have to be resolved urgently, as the world is threatened seriously by unilateral actions by the US that will break down years of effort to build a cohesive and inclusive international order benefitting all countries," he said.

Loh said the document demonstrates China's evolution from participating in the international system to playing a more active role in improving it.

"China has clearly transited from a rule-taker to a co-architect of credible global governance – it is emerging as an effective arbiter and convener of the new world order," he said, adding that China is also becoming "a natural defender of the United Nations, whose core purpose is to upkeep the international system and multilateralism".

The paper reaffirms support for the UN-centered international system while advocating reforms that would make global institutions more representative and responsive to the interests of developing countries and argues that governance mechanisms should better reflect shifts in the global balance of economic and political influence.

Tom Harper, a China specialist at the United Kingdom's University of East London, said the document provides an insight into the world China hopes to see.

"It shows the kind of global order that China aspires to, which is particularly significant since it is now in a position to shape global governance," Harper said, noting that many of the ideas in the white paper have featured in Chinese foreign policy for more than a decade.

He said the paper also challenges the perception that China is seeking to overturn the existing international order.

"It … shows how China, in some ways, is a status quo power, since it is emphasizing established international institutions, which contradicts the traditional path of a revisionist power that seeks to subvert or destroy these institutions," he said.

Harper added that China's continued emphasis on multilateral institutions reflects its efforts to present itself as a stabilizing force at a time when many global challenges can no longer be addressed by individual countries.

He added that the paper's references to a multipolar world are also significant, suggesting they respond to what he described as Washington's increasing reluctance to shoulder global responsibilities. China, he said, is likely to pursue this vision by working within existing institutions while encouraging greater participation from Global South countries.

Michael Schumann, chairman of the German Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade, said the initiative carries important implications for businesses.

"China's Global Governance Initiative sends a clear signal: fair rules, inclusive multilateralism, and technological cooperation must go hand in hand," he said. "High-tech sectors – from AI to green technologies – can only develop their full potential through open and rules-based market access, not fragmentation."

Schumann said China's commitment to equal standards and a people-centered approach provides "a constructive framework for deepening EU-China trade", and added that pragmatic economic cooperation based on mutual interests and transparency remains "the most effective path toward stable and productive relations".

Climate action also features prominently in the white paper, with Beijing calling for stronger international cooperation to tackle global environmental challenges.

Loh said the world has lost valuable time that should have been spent addressing climate change, because of policy reversals by some countries.

"The Chinese document places key priority on building a climate-resilient world to safeguard humanity's future," he said, adding that China is increasingly acting "as a promoter of global governance by design".

Jenny Clegg, author of the book China's Global Strategy: Towards a Multipolar World, said the initiative reflects China's emphasis on collective security and shared development.

"In seeking to safeguard the UN-centered system, the GGI emphasizes both the mutuality of security – that nations cannot gain security at the expense of others – and the importance of a people-centered approach," she said.

Clegg argued that reforming global governance requires addressing structural imbalances in the international economic system, so trade and investment better support development, rather than focusing solely on shareholder returns.

She said China could strengthen its role in global governance by deepening engagement with middle powers, expanding mutually beneficial economic cooperation, and supporting the development priorities of Global South countries.

"In this way, drawing more countries to face its direction, China can develop as a world diplomatic hub, gain more experience in mediating conflicts, and promote a united front for a more orderly UN-centered world, in line with the principles set out in the GGI," she said.

Zhang Zhouxiang contributed to the story