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China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said “a multipolar world is emerging”, positioning Beijing’s latest vision for global governance as a unifying and stabilising framework at a time of increasing turbulence and Washington-driven unilateralism. Speaking in Beijing on Monday, Wang also called for “an end to politicising economic and trade issues, artificially fragmenting global markets, and frequently provoking trade and tariff battles”, a thinly veiled jab at US President Donald Trump. His remarks came just ahead of the first face-to-face summit between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping since the US leader’s return to the White House, set to take place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in South Korea’s Gyeongju on Thursday. Wang hailed the Global Governance Initiative (GGI), introduced by Xi last month, as “another major public good China contributes to the world”, noting it had already received support from over 140 countries and international organisations. Drawing on earlier efforts – including the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilisation Initiative – the five-point framework underscores China’s commitment to inclusive multilateralism, sovereign equality and developmental autonomy free from ideological constraints. Its formal launch, set against the backdrop of ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, economic fragmentation, and declining trust in US leadership, was widely seen as a counter to Trump’s transactional diplomacy. The initiative appears to have been aimed primarily at the Global South, marking a more ambitious phase in China’s global engagement, according to observers. Wang argued that the GGI responded directly to the challenges of unilateralism, geopolitical rivalry and institutional stagnation, adding that it was intended to reform and improve the current system “rather than starting anew”. With more than 50 conflicts worldwide and at least 100 million displaced people, he stressed that “global governance is more essential than ever in a world entangled in turmoil”. “Blind faith in power politics and bullying will only push the world towards chaos and undermine the foundations of international systems and rules,” he said. Reaffirming China’s support for multilateralism and the United Nations, Wang called for reforms that would enhance the body’s authority and effectiveness and delivered another pointed critique of Trump’s “America first” policies and its disengagement from multilateral institutions. “Frequent withdrawals from international agreements and the formation of exclusive blocs have posed unprecedented challenges,” Wang said. “Yet the tide of history cannot be reversed – a multipolar world is emerging.” In contrast, he described the GGI as a “timely” call for “unity over division and cooperation over confrontation” that “rejects bullying by the strong and opposes imposing the ‘house rules’ of a few nations on others”. He also highlighted the rise of the Global South and its rightful role in shaping governance, calling for urgent reforms to global institutions, especially addressing Africa’s demands. “Faced with major crises and conflicts, the UN Security Council has failed to effectively respond to the expectations of the international community,” he said. “The most urgent task is to make special arrangements to prioritise the demands of Africa.” Wang criticised selective adherence to rules and emphasised the need for democratisation and the rule of law in international relations. “[Countries] must not use international rules when they serve them and abandon them when they do not, and they must not wilfully try to choke the UN,” he said. The speech also addressed economic governance, with Wang advocating for depoliticised trade, a revitalised role for the World Trade Organization, quota reforms for the International Monetary Fund and World Bank equity reviews. “The reform of the international financial system has been seriously lagging, failing to reflect the dramatic changes in the global economic landscape,” he said. Marking the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, Wang also urged all countries to fulfil climate commitments. “No one can be left behind in addressing climate change, and no country can afford to shirk its responsibilities,” he said, in an apparent jab at Trump’s decision to withdraw from the landmark climate accord again. He also stressed that artificial intelligence should benefit all humanity and not be monopolised or misused, called for a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire in Gaza, and reiterated China’s neutral stance and commitment to peace talks. However, critics have argued that the GGI was simply a repackaging of existing principles and broad principles without offering clear definitions of “governance” or concrete solutions to the shortcomings of the current US-led global system. Some have also noted Beijing’s selective critique of US foreign policy while overlooking the disruptive behaviour of other states like Russia and North Korea. In his speech on Monday, Wang said China would host Apec in 2026, while South Africa, Brazil and Qatar would host major summits in the coming year, marking the arrival of “Southern Time” in global governance. “A China that continues its path of modernisation will undoubtedly create vast opportunities for the common development of all countries,” he concluded. “A China committed to the noble cause of peace and development will demonstrate even greater responsibility in promoting human progress and continue promoting regional cooperation.”
