By Mark Longyen
Chinese President Xi Jinping has unveiled eight measures to advance global governance reforms, calling for greater multilateral cooperation, equitable representation and stronger international institutions.
Xi, represented by Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi, disclosed this at the opening of the 2026 Global Governance Forum in Xiong’an, China.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the three-day forum is holding under the theme: Rebuilding Confidence and Cooperation, Reforming and Improving Global Governance in a Transforming World.”
“I have put forward the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) to promote the building of a more just and equitable global governance system and a better world,” he said.
Among China’s eight measures, he announced plans to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting, advance United Nations reform and strengthen the Group of Friends of Global Governance.
Other measures include promoting the marine biodiversity agreement, reforming global human rights governance, publishing China’s position on outer space governance and reporting progress on inclusive AI capacity-building.
China will also establish a Global Governance Research Centre to examine major policy and theoretical issues, publish a global governance index and produce annual reports.
Xi said China was ready to work with other countries to build a more equitable international system, noting that global governance required collective commitment and shared responsibility.
He noted that the world was facing growing deficits in peace, development, security and governance amid accelerating global transformations.
“The world is undergoing accelerated transformation unseen in a century, and the deficits in peace, development, security and governance are growing rather than diminishing,” Xi said.
The Chinese President said the Global Governance Initiative, which is his brainchild, sought to build a more just and equitable international governance system through consultation, cooperation and shared benefits.
He urged countries to “strengthen multilateralism, uphold sovereign equality and inject greater certainty into a world increasingly affected by instability.”
Xi described the United Nations as indispensable to global governance, and urged member states to safeguard its authority and advance reforms to improve its effectiveness.
He also called for fairness and justice in international relations, stressing that all countries, regardless of size or strength, deserved equal participation in global decision-making.
The president urged reforms to the international financial system and United Nations Security Council to strengthen developing countries’ representation, particularly addressing Africa’s concerns.
He identified BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) as important platforms for strengthening the Global South’s contribution to international governance.
Xi warned against protectionism, describing international trade as a key engine of economic growth, and called for renewed commitment to the World Trade Organisation’s multilateral trading system.
He urged countries to place development at the centre of international priorities and accelerate implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
On emerging technologies, Xi advocated internationally agreed governance frameworks for artificial intelligence, alongside cooperation on outer space, marine biodiversity and other global commons.
He described Xiong’an New Area, established in Hebei Province, as a long-term national development project and an experiment in modern governance, green development and high-quality growth.
Xi said hosting the forum in Xiong’an was intended to encourage participants to adopt a long-term perspective, pool collective wisdom and develop practical solutions to global challenges.
He expressed hope that the discussions would advance reforms towards a more just and equitable global governance system, and wished the forum success.(NAN)
Edited by Isaac Aregbesola
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