By Miriam Humbe
Chinese President, Xi Jinping recently introduced the Global Governance Initiative (GGI), a framework intended to reform international cooperation in a time of turbulence.
President Xi Jinping used the occasion of the 25th Heads of States Council of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) “Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus” Summit in Tianjin to make the announcement.
The elaborate initiative demands a system grounded in sovereign equality, adherence to international law, multilateralism, a people-centered approach, and practical results, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
It also coincided with the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, with both moments being a reflection of collective efforts to safeguard peace and institutionalize cooperation.
President Xi Jinping called on countries to work in concert for a more just and equitable global governance system, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
For a better understanding, a global governance system is a complex web of informal and formal rules, agreements, organizations, and processes that coordinate actions and decision-making across national boundaries to address global challenges, without a single world government.
Global Governance Initiative therefore, involves collaboration between governments, international organizations, and Civil Society to manage transnational issues like Climate Change, pandemics, and economic stability through principles like voluntary participation, negotiated agreements, and shared norms, as against a hierarchical, authoritarian structure.
Fair enough, the whole essence of the GGI is to see that no country, no matter how powerful, including China, should attempt to manipulate the Global Governance Initiative rules to its own advantage.
President Xi Jinping said history reminds us that: “At difficult times, we must uphold our original commitment to peaceful coexistence, strengthen our confidence in win-win cooperation, advance in line with the trend of history, and thrive in keeping pace with the times.”
Nigeria And China…
Also recently, at the 17th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in Brazil, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu called for “a financial restructuring and a re-evaluation of the global social and governance order”.
President Tinubu further said: “Nigeria re-affirms its commitment to strategic collaboration that translates into sustainable and inclusive development for all”.
The summit was themed: “Strengthening Global South Cooperation and Promoting a more Inclusive and Sustainable Global Governance”.
Key Characteristics Of The Global Governance Initiative:
No World Government-
Global governance is distinct from a world government; it respects national sovereignty while fostering cooperation.
Multi-Stakeholder Involvement:
It brings together various actors, including states, intergovernmental organizations (like the UN), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private sector entities, and civil society groups.
Focus on Global Challenges:
The system is designed to tackle problems that no single country can solve alone, such as climate change, global health crises, economic stability, and peace and security.
Voluntary Participation And Norms-
It relies on voluntary cooperation, negotiated agreements, shared norms, and rights-based rules rather than mandatory authority.
Flexible And Dynamic-
Global governance is a multifaceted, evolving process rather than a fixed structure, using both soft power and formal agreements to achieve common goals.
How it Works-
Institutions and Processes-
It functions through a variety of institutions, such as the United Nations, and various processes, like international treaties, customs, and agreements.
Shared Standards and Values-
It promotes the creation of agreed-upon standards and evolving norms based on shared values to guide collective action.
Coordination and Harmonization:
It involves efforts to harmonize laws, create international regimes, and develop policy networks to manage global affairs.
Why it Matters, Interconnectedness-
In an increasingly interconnected world, global governance provides the necessary frameworks for collective action on issues that transcend national borders.
Collective Action-
It enables countries and other actors to pool their efforts and resources to address shared global public goods that no single nation can provide alone.
As it is, a very important opportunity and strategic platform has presented itself for Nigeria to translate her resolve and “commitment to strategic collaboration” into practical action that would give effect to “sustainable and inclusive development”.
President Xi Jinping magnanimously expressed China’s resolve to “work with all countries for a more just and equitable global governance system and advance toward a community with a shared future for humanity”.
He further outlined the essential and basic features of the proposed Global Governance Initiative to include sovereign equality, which recognizes the equal weight and stake of all states in the international system which must translate to inclusive decision-making and equitable participation of all state actors thereby giving effect to the democratisation of the international system.
Understanding the Global Governance Initiative (GGI)
The GGI builds on China’s earlier proposals—the Global Development Initiative (GDI), Global Security Initiative (GSI), and Global Civilization Initiative (GCI)—but addresses the larger question of how global governance itself should evolve.
Its five commitments are:
Sovereign equality – All countries, regardless of size or power, should have equal say in governance.
International rule of law – Strict observance of the UN Charter and international law, with no double standards.
Multilateralism – Support for the UN as the core platform for inclusive decision-making.
People-centered approach – Ensuring governance delivers for ordinary people by tackling inequality and common challenges.
Real results – Focusing on coordinated, outcome-oriented action in areas such as digital governance, space, and climate.
The initiative seeks not to replace the current system but to reform and revitalize it, making institutions more representative and effective.
Why the Initiative Matters Now…
The introduction of the Global Governance Initiative comes at a moment when the international system is under significant strain. The post-1945 multilateral order, once anchored in the UN Charter and international law, faces erosion from renewed great power rivalry, rising protectionism, and the resurgence of unilateral measures. At the same time, global challenges—from climate change and pandemics to artificial intelligence and widening inequality—are intensifying, yet collective responses remain fragmented.
China frames the GGI as a corrective to what it describes as the “deficits” of the current system: underrepresentation of the Global South, weakened authority of international law, and a lack of effective solutions to pressing issues.
For developing nations in particular, the initiative promises greater voice and participation in shaping global rules. In this sense, GGI resonates strongly with calls for a fairer international financial architecture, equitable climate financing, and inclusive digital governance.
The initiative also matters because it addresses a deeper concern: the legitimacy of multilateralism itself. With skepticism growing about the effectiveness of international institutions, the GGI offers a vision for revitalizing cooperation through concrete reforms rather than abandoning the system altogether.
It positions the UN as indispensable but in need of renewal, particularly in expanding representation and closing governance gaps in new domains like cyberspace and outer space.
Ultimately, the timing reflects both opportunity and necessity. Just as the founding of the UN in 1945 responded to the crises of its time, the GGI seeks to rally the world to confront today’s turbulence with unity, inclusivity.
The GGI Gets World Governments’ Support
Indonesia…
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has thrown his support behind Chinese President Xi Jinping’s proposals at a BRICS virtual leaders’ meeting.
The statement is aligning Southeast Asia’s largest economy more closely with Beijing’s call to defend multilateralism and reject protectionism.
Nauru, Pacific Island Nation…
Nauru said on Friday it “warmly welcomes” the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) proposed by China early this month during the “Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Plus” Meeting.
The Pacific island country said it stands firmly with China in championing the principles of sovereign equality, multilateralism, and inclusive international cooperation that underpin this “timely initiative.”
“We look forward to working alongside China and other partners in advancing a shared future for humanity through equitable and action-oriented global governance,” it said.
Russia…
Russian President Vladimir Putin voiced support on Monday for the GGI, saying that China’s proposals are relevant in a situation where “some countries stubbornly seek to use pressure in international affairs,” TASS reported.
Putin also said that Russia was interested in launching specific discussions of the proposals ‘put forward by our Chinese partners’, TASS said.
United Nations…
UN Secretary-General António Guterres at an interview with CCTV News said that China had always stood on the side of peace and justice, contributing greatly to promoting world peace and development.
The UN Chief said this while commending China’s efforts in working with other countries for a more just and equitable global governance system and advancing toward a community with a shared future for humanity.
The initiatives proposed by China align perfectly with the issues of today’s world and the concerns of the United Nations, demonstrate a clear strategic vision and show China’s sense of responsibility as a major country, he said, according to CCTV News.
Pakistan…
“The Global Governance Initiative (GGI) will make global governance more responsive to the needs of developing countries. Pakistan is willing to actively participate in the initiative,” Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said at the SCO (Plus) Meeting, according to a post published by the Pakistani government on X platform on Tuesday.
Sharif also declared it a historic step toward a stronger multilateral system, which aligns with the UN Charter and will help make the global governance system more responsive to the needs of developing countries and address contemporary challenges facing humanity, according to the Pakistani government’ post on X.
Belarus…
Belarus is ready to join China’s global governance initiative, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at the meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State in the SCO Plus format, BelTA has learned.
Venezuela…
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Monday expressed support for the GGI and announced that the South American country will join the project, Agencia EFE reported.
“President Xi Jinping has announced today an initiative called the ‘Global Governance Initiative.’ We have received the official accession document, and I am going to sign it,” Maduro stated at an international press conference, per Agencia EFE.
Nicaragua…
Besides Venezuela, Nicaragua from the Latin America also joined the initiative, according to local news site Tortilla con Sal. The initiative aims at promoting the construction of a more just and rational system of global governance, working together for the community of a shared future for humanity, the media report said.
Cuba…
The Cuban embassy in China said on Monday that Cuba supports the GGI, according to a post published by the embassy on X platform.
This endeavor will advance democratization of international relations and reform of global governance system to ensure the building of a community with a shared future, the post said.
Nigeria Already Keying In:
Nigeria has thrown its full weight behind the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) unveiled by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The nation’s House Committee on Nigeria–China Parliamentary Relations described the plan as a bold step toward a fairer and more inclusive world order.
Committee Chairman, Hon. Jaafaru Yakubu said in a press statement at the National Assembly in Abuja, that the initiative’s guiding principles of fairness, inclusivity, multilateralism, and people‑centred development mirror Nigeria’s long‑standing commitment to equitable international cooperation.
The Committee is to work to ensure that Nigeria’s participation in the GGI is backed by strong legislative and institutional support, enabling the country to translate its ideals into concrete policies that deliver real benefits to citizens.
The lawmaker said that the framework opens the door for deeper collaboration with China in areas including renewable energy, the digital economy, technological innovation, infrastructure, and cultural exchange.
He said that such cooperation would not only strengthen bilateral ties but also help position Nigeria as an active contributor to shaping a global governance system that reflects the aspirations of the Global South.
