摘要：An exterior view of the main venue of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025 in north China's Tianjin, August 29,

An exterior view of the main venue of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025 in north China's Tianjin, August 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

By Hamzah Rifaat Hussain

When chairing the "Shanghai Cooperation Organization plus" Meeting in north China's Tianjin on Monday, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) for the very first time. The GGI is anchored in five principles, including adherence to sovereign equality, abiding by international rule of law, practicing multilateralism, advocating for people-centered approaches and focusing on taking real actions.

It's worth noting that undertaking concrete actionsis of great significance for all countries. States must pursue contingency planning, joint initiatives and scaling of projects to truly realize development potential amid challenging international dynamics such as Western countries' reckless protectionism, unilateral imposition of tariffs and undermining of international institutions.

Over the past 24 years, the SCO has been committed to global peace, development and the progress of humanity. Initiatives such as joint anti-terror drills among members, the establishment of Luban Workshops in SCO countries and the successful hosting of the SCO Film Festival all exemplify this commitment. These practices suggest that implementing the core tenets of the GGI through concrete measures can result in a more equitable and sustainable future.

The developed world, for example, must fulfil its obligations to the developing world for equity and parity to take hold. Major powers must shoulder responsibilities to address the plight of less developed states, which has not been the case.

Take, for example, the pledges made regarding green financing initiatives and climate change. Note that in 2024, developing countries had urged the developed world to provide $1.3 trillion annually for contingency planning and risk mitigation; however, this was demanded after previous pledges worth $100 billion per year were delayed and not met.

Such challenges can only be addressed if the national interests of states align with global interests. Recognizing the need for equitable health infrastructure, China's proposal stands in stark contrast to the destruction of the global health system by certain Western countries. It involves SCO countries witnessing their congenital heart patients benefiting from 10,000 cancer screenings and 5,000 cataract operations over the next five years in the country. Such pledges bring people, countries and societies closer in the absence of frictions and divisions and are critical for global governance.

Secondly, pledges need to be complemented with investments in technological infrastructure, such as the prospective launch of artificial intelligence (AI) application centers, vocational and training centers and science and technology parks in regions like Central Asia for states to build the requisite capacity towards digitalization.

People learn about a bionic humanoid robot at the Zhongguancun International Innovation Center during the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum Annual Conference in Beijing, capital of China, March 27, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

Kazakhstan, for example, is pushing for institutions such as the SCO Water Problems Study Center and the SCO Expert Forum on AI, which can become pivotal for developing requisite human capital dealing with digital technologies and water management.

Similarly, shortcomings related to disaster management, emergency responsiveness, smart agriculture and navigation can be addressed with measures such as China's provision of open access to the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System and collaborative development of digital systems for SCO member states, observer states and dialogue partners.

The developed world's neglect to address pressing challenges also builds the case for joint collaboration on areas such as climate financing and infrastructural development through targeted investments and concessional loans. This is made possible through responsible overtures such as establishing an SCO development bank and the opening of the SCO Universal Center for Countering Security Challenges and Threats, enabling countries to jointly address challenges like fiscal policy adjustments, human capital and counterterrorism strategies. This can prove to be an excellent example of the Global South upholding solidarity while strengthening cooperation amid neglect from the developed world.

While the message of the GGI from President Xi reflects China's century-long pursuit of a future world order marked by fairness and equality, it also comes at a time when countries are seeking an alternative governance system based on equity and multipolar unity. Such multipolarity can be capitalized upon if the SCO family deepens inclusive multilateral governance by potentially boosting the representation of countries in the United Nations and the IMF, as well as deepening partnerships with other cooperation blocs.

Trade remains the key, however. Major powers need to be more responsible for equitable trade distribution, given that trade imbalances continue to disproportionately affect the developing world, which dampens confidence in peace and development. Under the GGI, this can be reversed through greater facilitation of e-commerce involving small and medium-sized enterprises and digitalization and expansion of industrial value chains to provide more goods for the international community and instill greater confidence in peace and development.

Hence, the key to global governance lies in undertaking concrete actions. Only then can true potential be realized.

Hamzah Rifaat Hussain, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is a senior expert at Initiate Futures, a global policy think tank.

来源：中国网一点号