By Carlisle Jno Baptiste
On September 1, 2025, upon the conclusion of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Tianjin Summit, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, together with SCO Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev, met Chinese and foreign press at the Media Center of the Summit, where they faced several questions.
Among the questions asked were issues surrounding the “global governance initiative,” which is commonly referred to as Global governance (or world governance).
The “global governance initiative” comprises institutions that coordinate the behavior of transnational actors, facilitate cooperation, resolve disputes, and alleviate collective-action problems. Global governance broadly entails making, monitoring, and enforcing rules. Within global governance, a variety of types of actors, not just states, exercise power.
In contrast to the traditional meaning of “governance,” the term global governance is used to denote the regulation of interdependent relations in the absence of an overarching political authority. The best example of this is the international system of relationships between independent states.
It is important to note that the concept of global governance began in the mid-19th century. It became particularly prominent in the aftermath of World War I, and more so after the end of World War II. Since World War II, the number of international organizations has increased substantially.
The number of actors (whether they be states, non-governmental organizations, firms, or epistemic communities) who are involved in governance relationships has also increased substantially.
So, in response to a question on the “practical significance of the Global Governance Initiative (GGI)” in addressing global issues and challenges, Wang Yi explained that “this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations. In this special historical year of taking stock of the past and envisioning the future, President Xi Jinping solemnly proposed the GGI, further contributing China’s wisdom and presenting China’s solution to strengthen and improve global governance.”
“The GGI comes at the right time since, currently, the world today is undergoing accelerated changes unseen in a century, with frequent regional turmoil, impeded economic development, backlash against globalization, gaps in rules and rule of law, and an intensifying deficit in governance. Against this backdrop, the questions of what kind of global governance system to build and how to reform and improve the global governance system have increasingly become major topics of high concern to the international community,” Wang Yi said.
He described 2025 as a “big year” for global governance, and further stated that President Xi Jinping’s proposal of the GGI is both “timely and crucial” in responding to the common aspirations of people in all countries and meeting the urgent needs of the world today. Since its proposal, the GGI has been welcomed and supported by leaders of participating countries and international organizations, and will surely gain broad recognition from the international community.
It must be noted that all countries, including Dominica, regardless of size, strength, or wealth, have an equal right to participate in international affairs.
Importantly, Dominica and China have established what is termed the “Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the three “global initiatives”: the global development Initiative (GDI), the global security Initiative (GSI), and the global civilization initiative (GCI), which makes China exceptionally well-positioned to engage small states like Dominica.
China has been vocal on the concerns of an unequal situation in which a few countries monopolize global governance, stating that “this should no longer continue.” Especially given the fact that international law is the fundamental safeguard for global governance.
International law and international rules are common standards, which should be jointly formulated, maintained, and implemented by all countries, and there should be no exception.”
According to research, multilateralism is the basic pathway of global governance. Global governance is a matter for all countries and concerns the vital interests of each country. It needs coordination and cooperation rather than unilateralism and bullying.
Further research has proven that the people-centered approach is the underpinning value of global governance, and this has always been the approach of China.
At its core, global governance is about turning people’s longing for a better life into reality and jointly building a world in which all can enjoy affluence and contentment. Taking real actions is an important principle of global governance. The vitality of global governance comes from practice, with the key lying in action and the ultimate test in results. It is necessary to focus on both the present and the long term, and to address the practical issues of all countries, especially the vast number of developing countries.
Hence, given China’s approach to the global initiative, since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Dominica has found success and benefited tremendously through a blend of development, security, and cultural engagement between the two countries.