Mr. Qu Yingpu, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of China Daily,

Under-Secretary-General Li Junhua, 

Director Dima Al-Khatib,

Professor Jeffrey Sachs,

Ms. Nell Chennault Calloway,

Dear Colleagues and Guests,

Good afternoon. Welcome to the Vision China Forum co-hosted by China Daily and the Chinese Mission.

I think the theme of today’s Forum could not be more fitting and timely. This year, we are marking the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, a time to take stock of the achievements made and the lessons learned. And just two weeks ago, at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in China, President Xi Jinping launched the Global Governance Initiative. 

The GGI has immediately captured the world’s attention, and has been warmly received by the international community. Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the Initiative’s commitment to multilateralism and its focus on safeguarding the international system with the UN at its core and the international order underpinned by international law.

This Global Governance Initiative will, of course, be the focus of my remarks today. And I look forward to the insights of fellow keynote speakers as we explore its significance together.

Dear Friends,

Eighty years ago, out of the ashes of World War II, nations came together with a shared determination “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.” That spirit gave birth to the United Nations we know today and opened a new chapter for global governance.

Over the past eight decades, the international system with the UN at its core has played an indispensable role in advancing world peace, development, and human progress. 

However, this very architecture, and the values we have once defended with great sacrifice, are now under mounting pressure.

What we are grappling with today are the under-representation of the Global South, the undermined authority of multilateralism, and the under-performance of the international community as a whole in addressing global challenges. 

To begin with, the rise of developing countries and emerging economies is reshaping the global landscape. The structures we built decades ago are becoming increasingly out of step with today’s realities. Calls for reform, especially from the Global South, grow louder with each passing day.

At the same time, unilateralism, driven by some countries’ narrow self-interests, is rearing its ugly head, and dealing severe blows to the authority and effectiveness of multilateralism. 

This has, in turn, hampered our collective efforts to address global challenges, those that are no longer confined within a single country, nor can be addressed by any nation alone. 

It is against this backdrop that President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Governance Initiative. The GGI rests on five core concepts, namely sovereign equality, international rule of law, multilateralism, a people-centered approach, and real results. Together, they outline the principles and pathways for improving the global governance system.

These five concepts echo the very purposes and principles of the UN Charter. They demonstrate the GGI’s firm support for the UN’s central role in international affairs.

For China, reforming and improving global governance is never about tearing down the current system, nor about starting something anew. Rather, it is about strengthening the capacity and effectiveness of existing institutions, so that they can better keep pace with changing realities, respond more swiftly to global challenges, and better serve the interests of all countries, especially the developing world.

Dear Friends, 

China has always been a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, a defender of the international order, and a provider of global public goods.

This Global Governance Initiative is the fourth major global initiative proposed by China, following those on development, security, and civilization. Each of the four global initiatives addresses a distinct challenge, and together they form a coherent vision that reflects China’s sense of responsibility as a major country.

Looking ahead, China will stay committed to the vision of global governance featuring extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits. Under the guidance of the Global Governance Initiative, we stand ready to join hands with the United Nations and all partners to promote the building of a fairer and more equitable system of global governance, and a community with a shared future for humanity. 

Thank you.