China’s global initiatives offer ray of hope in a turbulent world

The 2026 Global Governance Forum in Xiongan, Hebei province, wrapped up on October 25. Against a backdrop of acute strains on multilateralism and a widening global governance deficit, the forum galvanised a shared sense of urgency across the international community for reform and solidarity.

More than a century ago, Karl Marx noted that, “Philosophers have hitherto only interpreted the world in various ways; the point is to change it.” That insight strikes at the very heart of today’s global governance crisis.

It is simply not enough to analyse geopolitical tensions or bemoan development gaps; the international community must design and execute a workable road map. China’s four global initiatives, with the Global Governance Initiative as a key pillar, provide precisely this compass, pointing to a clear way forward to address the world’s most pressing problems.

China has successively proposed the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilisation Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative. Far from a piecemeal collection of ideas, they form an integrated, mutually reinforcing architecture: development lays the material foundation, security safeguards peace, civilisation fosters shared values and governance provides institutional backing.

Together, they yield an actionable framework to advance the vision of a community with a shared future for humanity, fostering prosperity through development, stability through security, trust through civilisation and fairness through governance.

Under the Global Development Initiative, China has mobilised more than US$23 billion to drive the growth and revitalisation of the Global South. With more than 2,000 cooperative projects rolled out, the initiative has injected fresh, concrete momentum into the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Under the Global Security Initiative, China remains committed to a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. It has pursued political settlements to hotspot issues, bringing a distinctively Chinese approach in seeking to resolve the conflict in Ukraine and tensions across the Middle East.

On non-traditional fronts, including cybersecurity and cross-border crime, China has rallied global action and deepened international coordination. Today, the initiative enjoys support from more than 130 countries and international organisations.

Under the Global Civilisation Initiative, China spearheaded the UN General Assembly resolution establishing the International Day for Dialogue among Civilisations. It has built premier dialogue platforms, including the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilisations and the Liangzhu Forum, and forged bilateral cooperation agreements covering culture, heritage preservation and tourism with more than 100 countries.

Under the Global Governance Initiative, China has released the “Concept Paper on the Global Governance Initiative” and the white paper “More Just and Equitable Global Governance: China’s Principles, Proposals and Actions”. It spearheaded the Group of Friends of Global Governance, hosted the 2026 Global Governance Forum and helped chart the course for global governance reform.

Upholding the UN-centred international system, China has supported the expansion and development of platforms such as the Brics bloc of developing nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Together with like-minded partners, China launched the International Organisation for Mediation, filling a critical void in international dispute settlement and offering a vital legal public good.

Furthermore, China has rolled out forward-looking frameworks such as the Global AI Governance Initiative and the Global Initiative on Data Security while championing the founding of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation and the World Data Organisation to address rule-making gaps in emerging domains.

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China and 30+ countries establish international mediation organisation in Hong Kong

I believe Hong Kong is uniquely positioned as a strategic launch pad for realising these four global initiatives. Capitalising on its dual role as a “superconnector” and “super value-adder”, the city delivers unique, multifaceted value.

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On the development front, as an international financial centre and the world’s top offshore yuan market, Hong Kong powers green finance and cross-border infrastructure with robust fundraising and risk-management solutions under the Global Development Initiative framework.

On security, supported by a world-class regulatory system, the city acts as a frontline defence against non-traditional threats in finance and cyberspace while joining hands with global partners against cross-border crime and health crises.

Culturally, its status as an international arts hub offers an unmatched gateway for dialogue and consensus among diverse civilisations. Finally, in global governance, Hong Kong leverages its common law tradition and arbitration expertise to anchor a thriving legal ecosystem, highlighted by the International Organisation for Mediation.

Moving from Chinese proposals to global consensus, these initiatives have generated far-reaching international influence. The Global Development Initiative has rallied more than 130 countries and international organisations to its cause; the Global Security Initiative has seen its core principles incorporated into more than 180 bilateral and multilateral agreements; the Global Civilisation Initiative continues to resonate broadly; and the Global Governance Initiative has established itself as a centrepiece for multilateral cooperation.

As demonstrated by the Xiongan Forum, the world eagerly seeks fair, practical solutions rooted in multilateralism. Going forward, China will continue to join hands with the global community to turn this governance blueprint into tangible results and pave a shared way forward.