Dear Colleagues,

Countries across the world share a common future. Enhancing global governance is the path we must take to safeguard common interests and address shared challenges. Today, the global governance deficit continues to widen, and there is a serious lack of voice and representation of developing countries and a vacuum of governance on new frontiers such as artificial intelligence. President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Governance Initiative (GGI), with five major principles, namely, sovereign equality, international rule of law, multilateralism, a people-centered approach, and real actions. This initiative provides China’s solution to reforming and improving global governance. China stands ready to work with BRICS members and partner countries to implement the GGI and advance the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

First, we should lay a solid foundation for global governance by enhancing the rule of law. The more severe and complex the situation becomes, the more urgent the need for us to strengthen the basis of international rule of law, uphold the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter, and safeguard the basic norms of international relations, including sovereign equality, non-interference in internal affairs and peaceful settlement of disputes. It is imperative to ensure the equal and uniform application of international law and international rules, oppose double standards, reject selective application of rules, and stand against all self-serving norms unauthorized by the U.N., in contradiction with the U.N. Charter. China has established the International Organization for Mediation jointly with 32 countries, offering an important public goods of the rule of law for better global governance. We welcome more countries to join the organization.

Second, we should safeguard the core architecture of the existing global governance system. The U.N. is the core mechanism for realizing world peace and development, as well as an important platform for the Global South to participate in international affairs on an equal footing. Under the current circumstances, the role of the U.N. can only be strengthened, not weakened. We should join hands to uphold the authority of the U.N. and improve the efficiency of the U.N. system, so as to better adapt it to the needs of the 21st century. The reform of the U.N. Security Council should adhere to democratic consultation, and increase the representation and voice of developing countries, especially African countries. In addition we should firmly support the rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core, actively participate in consultations on the WTO reform in depth, and support the WTO in playing a greater role in global economic governance. We need to accelerate the process of the 17th General Review of Quotas of the International Monetary Fund, and achieve meaningful adjustment of quota shares as early as possible, so as to advance the reform of the international financial architecture to better reflect the changes in the global economic landscape.

Third, we should shore up the weak links and fill the deficit in global governance. With science and technology advancing by leaps and bounds, global governance needs to keep pace with the times. Now, global governance on AI is a focus of discussions among all parties. On global AI governance, we should stay committed to a people-centered approach and the principle of AI for good. We should also align development strategies, governance rules and technical standards to foster a diverse and open innovation ecosystem. We should support the U.N. as the main channel for AI governance, and help developing countries bridge intelligence gaps to achieve equitable and inclusive development. Moreover, greater BRICS cooperation calls for more dialogue and coordination on new frontiers such as cyberspace, deep sea, outer space, etc. We should promote rule-making, build international consensus, and foster a governance framework that serves the common interest of all countries.

Colleagues,

It takes unremitting efforts and solid steps to reform and improve global governance. China is ready to work with all BRICS members and partner countries to promote a more just and equitable global governance system. Together, we can create a better future for human society!