Working Together to Build a More Just and Equitable Global Governance System

Global governance is a common endeavor that bears on the wellbeing of all humanity, and building a just and equitable global governance system is a shared vision long pursued by peoples across the world including China and Finland. Over 80 years ago, the United Nations (UN) was founded as a multilateral platform for countries to address international affairs through dialogue and consultation. It established international rules underpinning the rule of law, ushering in a new phase in global governance. In recent times, however, unilateralism, protectionism, and hegemonism have been spreading unchecked, while deficits in peace, development, security, and trust continue to expand. Reforming and improving global governance to resolve these challenges and letting the UN play a core role have thus become a critical topic for the future of humanity.

China has always been an active participant in, contributor to, and builder of global governance. In the new era, President Xi Jinping put forward the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity. In promoting a global governance system characterized by extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefit, he has called for true multilateralism to foster an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. In 2025, at a pivotal historical juncture marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Global War Against Fascism and the founding of the UN, President Xi Jinping formally proposed the Global Governance Initiative (GGI).

The GGI is designed to offer a Chinese solution to the two pressing questions of the era: what kind of global governance system should be established, and how global governance can be reformed and improved. Upon its introduction, it swiftly gained support from nearly 160 countries and international organizations. The international community believes that the GGI sends a clear signal: uphold multilateralism, unite forces, and pursue a fair future. The GGI aligns with the growing trend towards greater democracy in international relations and bolsters international confidence in practicing multilateralism. It offers a clear and feasible roadmap for improving global governance, bringing valuable stability and positive energy to a turbulent world.

As a responsible major country, China champions the building of a community with a shared future for humanity and takes the lead in practicing true multilateralism. It has consistently been a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, a defender of the international order, and a provider of public goods, while actively advancing the efforts for building a more just and equitable global governance system, making distinct contributions to global governance in the following aspects:

Ⅰ.Committing to Universal and Common Security. As a major country with the best peace and security record, China has enshrined in its Constitution a commitment to peaceful development. It champions the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, and has put forward the Global Security Initiative and acted on its principles, contributing to lasting world peace and stability. China faithfully fulfills its mission and duties as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, firmly supporting the UN in playing its core role in international affairs and the Security Council in playing its primary role in international peace and security. China also takes an active part in UN peacekeeping operations as the second largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping budget and the largest troop contributor among the permanent members of the UN Security Council. To date, more than 50,000 Chinese peacekeepers have been dispatched. China pursues a national defense policy that is in nature defensive, upholds a firm commitment to a policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons and a nuclear strategy of self-defense, and resolutely safeguards the international nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation regimes. China upholds the principles of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, political settlement of issues, objectivity and fairness, and addressing both symptoms and root causes, offering a new approach for finding constructive solutions to flashpoints.

Ⅱ.Promoting Openness, Cooperation, and Common Development. As the largest developing country, China has always pursued its own growth in the context of humanity's shared development and upheld openness, win-win cooperation, inclusiveness, and shared benefits. Through Chinese modernization, the country has provided the world with new opportunities and boosted the global drive for modernization.

China has promoted trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and it has become the main trading partner of over 160 countries and regions, signing 24 free trade agreements with 31 countries and regions in the process. The country firmly safeguards the rule-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core, engages fully and deeply in WTO reforms, and has announced that it will not seek new special and differential treatment in current and future negotiations at the WTO.

China has expanded institutional opening up, removed all restrictions on foreign investment access in the manufacturing sector, continued to shorten the negative list for foreign investment, and fostered a world-leading business environment that is based on market principles, governed by law, and up to international standards. China opens platforms such as the China International Import Expo, China International Fair for Trade in Services, China International Consumer Products Expo, and China International Supply Chain Expo. During the 14th Five-year Plan period (2021-2025), China's imports of goods and services exceeded US$15 trillion, and its GDP is expected to increase from RMB140 trillion to RMB170 trillion (roughly USD 20.7 trillion to USD 25.1 trillion) in the next five years, as its vast market continues to realize its potential.

China has put forward and promoted the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, and taking the acceleration of the realization of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as its objectives, China helps steer global development towards a new stage of balanced, coordinated and inclusive growth that delivers more robust, greener, and healthier global development.

Ⅲ. Practicing True Multilateralism. No matter how the world changes, China will always uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. It advocates and practices true multilateralism and remains an active champion and strong proponent of multilateral cooperation. As a founding member of the UN and the first country to sign the UN Charter, China has consistently upheld the central role of the UN in international affairs through concrete actions. The country's contribution to the UN regular budget increased from less than 1 percent in 2000 to over 20 percent in 2025, making it the second largest contributor. China has paid in full its assessed contributions to the UN in support of the effective operation of UN agencies.

China supports the UN in advancing the implementation of the Pact for the Future and in enhancing the quality, efficiency, and vitality of the organization through the UN80 Initiative. China has joined nearly all universal intergovernmental organizations and signed over 600 international conventions and amendments, fulfilling its treaty obligations in good faith and honoring its international commitments. Additionally, it has initiated and led the creation of the International Organization for Mediation, filling a gap in the international mediation mechanism. China encourages the G20–as a major forum for economic dialogue between developed and developing countries–to pursue international cooperation in the spirit of equal consultation and mutual benefit.

Ⅳ. Supporting the Global South in Playing a Greater Role.China will always be a member of the Global South, and in the Global South its roots will remain. No matter what the future holds, it will always keep the wellbeing of the Global South in mind. Acting on the principles of sincerity, real results, amity, and good faith, and with a commitment to pursuing the greater good and shared interests, China has strengthened solidarity and cooperation with other developing countries, firmly safeguarded the common interests of the Global South in international affairs, and led the Global South in building strength through joint efforts. At the forefront of the Global South, China and other BRICS countries are jointly committed to promoting world economic growth, improving global economic governance, and advancing democracy in international relations.

China believes that the international financial architecture should be more balanced in representation and better reflect the realities of the world economy. It argues that the World Bank should conduct shareholding reviews and the International Monetary Fund should carry out quota share realignment in accordance with the agreed timeframes and roadmaps to address the democratic deficit in global financial governance.

China supports the reform of the UN Security Council, believing that increasing the representation of developing countries is the right direction of the reform, and that it is imperative to address the historical injustice suffered by Africa, with priority and special arrangements made for the continent's demands. China has proposed and advanced an initiative for open and inclusive Global South cooperation, implemented the eight measures in support of Global South cooperation, and encouraged the Global South to become a staunch force for peace, a driving force for open development, a builder of global governance, and an advocate for exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations.

Ⅴ. Promoting Exchanges and Mutual Learning Among Civilizations.Recognizing the fundamental reality of diversity in world civilizations and the urgent need to transcend civilizational conflicts, China has proposed the Global Civilization Initiative and promoted its implementation, championing the common values of humanity and fostering deeper exchanges and understanding among different peoples, and wider interactions and greater integration of diverse cultures in a joint effort to advance the development and progress of human civilization.

China upholds a vision of civilization characterized by equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness, and promotes harmonious coexistence among different civilizations to share and admire the beauty of all. On June 7, 2024, the country facilitated the unanimous adoption of a resolution at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, which designated June 10 as International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations. For its celebration, vibrant themed activities were held at UN venues in New York and Geneva and in countries around the world.

China has signed cooperation agreements on culture, cultural relics, and tourism with over 100 countries, deepening cooperation in world heritage protection and the translation of classic works. Through concrete actions, the country promotes global dialogue among civilizations and protects the cultural treasures of all humanity.

China advocates protecting human rights through security, advancing human rights through development, and promoting human rights through cooperation, steering global human rights governance in a more just, fair, reasonable, and inclusive direction.

Entry policies are being continually optimized, with unilateral visa-free access already in place for 50 countries including Finland, full mutual visa exemption for 29 countries, and 240-hour transit visa-free policy expanded to 55 countries across 65 entry ports. In 2025, 30.08 million foreigners entered China visa-free, accounting for 73.1 percent of all foreign arrivals, a year-on-year increase of 49.5 percent.

Ⅵ. Providing More Public Goods for the International Community. China firmly upholds and promotes the implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. The country adheres to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and works to build a fair and rational global climate governance system underpinned by cooperation for mutual benefit. In 2020, at the UN General Assembly, China solemnly declared that it would strive to peak its carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.

China has put forward the Global AI Governance Initiative, advocating a people-centered and AI-for-good approach. It supports the UN in playing a central role and promotes the formation of a global AI governance system with broad consensus to benefit all humanity. On July 16th, the World AI Cooperation Organization (WAICO) proposed by China was inaugurated in Shanghai. Representatives from 29 countries including China signed an agreement, making their countries the WAICO’s founding members, and China will continue to share Chinese wisdom, proposals and strength for the development and governance of artificial intelligence.

China continues to support the World Health Organization (WHO) in playing a central coordinating role in global health governance and has deeply engaged in and led key agendas, including the revision of the International Health Regulations, the negotiation of the Pandemic Agreement, and the reform of global health governance architecture and WHO governance. It has signed health cooperation agreements with over 160 countries and international organizations, contributing its share to safeguarding global public health security. Guided by the principle that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, China advances eco-environmental conservation as a priority, pursues green development, and has become an important participant, contributor, and torchbearer in the global endeavor to build an eco-civilization.

The world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation, and humanity once again faces a choice: a future marked by peace, dialogue, and win-win cooperation, or one marred by war, confrontation, and zero-sum competition. It is encouraging to see that with broad support from the international community, the Global Governance Initiative is drawing wide participation. Both China and Finland cherish peace and security, advocate openness and cooperation, support the UN-centered international system and multilateralism, stand for the growth of the Global South, and welcome dialogue between diverse civilizations. China stands ready to work hand in hand with all other countries including Finland to implement the Global Governance Initiative under the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits. Together, we can expand the scope and influence of multilateralism, let the light of fairness and justice illuminate the world, and bring the achievements of global governance to all nations. Together, we can create a brighter future for humanity and the progress of human civilization.

(Notes: The writer is the Chargé d'Affaires a.i. at the Embassy of the People's Republic of China, Finland. The article is a collaborating content by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China, Finland.)