China’s State Council Information Office on Wednesday released a white paper titled “More Just and Equitable Global Governance: China’s Principles, Proposals and Actions,” outlining Beijing’s vision for reforming the international governance system and promoting a more inclusive global order.
The document presents China’s approach to addressing global challenges through multilateralism, international cooperation, and stronger representation for developing countries, particularly those in the Global South.
According to the white paper, the world is facing profound transformations marked by geopolitical tensions, economic fragmentation, climate change, technological disruptions, and widening development gaps. It argues that existing global governance mechanisms are increasingly struggling to respond effectively to these challenges.
The 36-page document emphasizes that the international system centered on the United Nations should remain the foundation of global governance, while calling for reforms to make international institutions more representative, equitable, and effective.
Central to the white paper is China’s Global Governance Initiative (GGI), introduced by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2025. The initiative seeks to answer two key questions: what kind of global governance system the world needs, and how existing structures can be reformed and improved.
According to the document, the initiative has received support from nearly 160 countries and international organizations, with more than 60 countries joining the Group of Friends of Global Governance.
The white paper identifies five core principles underpinning China’s vision for global governance: sovereign equality, adherence to international law, multilateralism, a people-centered approach, and concrete action.
It stresses that all countries, regardless of size, strength, or level of development, should have equal rights to participate in global affairs. The document also advocates strict adherence to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and opposes unilateralism, protectionism, and hegemonism.
China argues that global governance should not be dominated by a small number of developed countries and calls for stronger voices and greater representation for developing nations. The paper notes that the Global South now accounts for over 60 percent of the global economy based on purchasing power parity and contributes around 80 percent of global economic growth.
The white paper highlights China’s contributions to international peace and development, describing the country as a builder of world peace, contributor to global development, defender of international order, and provider of public goods.
Among the initiatives highlighted are the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative, which together with the Global Governance Initiative form what China describes as a comprehensive framework for addressing global challenges.
The document points to China’s participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations, support for conflict mediation, promotion of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and efforts to advance sustainable development.
It also highlights China’s role in climate governance, noting the country’s commitment to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. The white paper further emphasizes China’s efforts in artificial intelligence governance, biodiversity conservation, public health cooperation, and digital governance.
On international reform, the paper advocates greater representation for developing countries in institutions such as the UN Security Council, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank. It specifically calls for addressing what it describes as historical injustices faced by Africa through enhanced representation in global decision-making bodies.
The white paper underscores China’s support for true multilateralism and its opposition to bloc politics and power-based international relations. It argues that global affairs should be discussed by all countries, governance systems built collectively, and development outcomes shared by all.
In the document, China calls on countries to work together to build a community with a shared future for humanity, emphasising that cooperation, dialogue, and mutual respect remain the most effective pathways for addressing the complex challenges facing the world.
