China's global governance initiative can help make multilateralism more effective: speakers

Giving developing countries a stronger voice and making international institutions more effective emerged as key priorities at a global governance forum in Xiong'an on Saturday, as speakers discussed how China's Global Governance Initiative could help strengthen the existing multilateral system.

Speaking at the plenary session of the 2026 Global Governance Forum (Xiong'an), Guy Ryder, United Nations under-secretary-general for policy, said international institutions must become more representative, inclusive and effective to address the challenges of a rapidly changing world.

He said China's Global Governance Initiative, proposed in September 2025, responds to these challenges and could help advance the UN's objectives, particularly through its emphasis on sovereign equality and greater representation for the Global South.

Ryder called for reforms to give developing countries a stronger voice in international decision-making, improve the global financial system, strengthen conflict prevention and enhance cooperation on emerging technologies.

He stressed that the priority was not simply to reaffirm support for multilateralism, but to make it more effective through concrete action.

Djoomart Otorbaev, former prime minister of Kyrgyzstan, said China's initiative offered a forward-looking vision for reforming the existing international order rather than replacing it.

He questioned why developing countries continued to have limited influence in institutions such as the International Monetary Fund despite the growing economic weight of the Global South.

Otorbaev called for reforms that would better reflect the realities of an increasingly multipolar world, arguing that international institutions must become fairer and more representative.

George Katrougalos, former Greek foreign minister and UN independent expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, said the international system faced a dual crisis of representation and effectiveness.

He called for revitalizing and democratizing existing institutions, stressing that a multipolar world required a stronger multilateral framework rooted in the UN Charter and international law.

Katrougalos described China's four major global initiatives on development, security, civilization and governance as complementary approaches to addressing contemporary challenges, with the GGI providing an institutional framework for more effective international cooperation.

The urgency of strengthening international cooperation was also reflected in remarks by Barham Salih, UN high commissioner for refugees, who said the displacement of more than 117 million people worldwide demonstrated the importance of an effective multilateral system.

He emphasized that humanitarian assistance alone could not provide lasting solutions and that peace remained essential to addressing refugee crises.

Klaus Schwab, founder of the World Economic Forum, warned that rapid advances in artificial intelligence were creating unprecedented challenges for global governance. He called for greater international cooperation, mutual trust and responsible governance to ensure emerging technologies benefit humanity rather than deepen divisions and inequality.

Former Nepalese president Bidya Devi Bhandari said global governance must give greater consideration to the concerns of developing countries, particularly least developed nations, landlocked countries and those vulnerable to climate change.

She said the GGI offered an opportunity to advance dialogue and international cooperation, but stressed that meaningful participation, transparency and tangible improvements in people's lives were essential to making such efforts effective.

Ali El-Hefny, former Egyptian deputy foreign minister and vice-chairman of the Egypt-China Friendship Association, also emphasized that reforming global governance should not mean dismantling the existing international order or creating alternative arrangements, but improving institutions to meet evolving challenges.

He said Africa's concerns, including development financing, institutional capacity and access to technology, must receive greater attention in global decision-making. Closer cooperation between China and African countries, he added, could help translate shared principles into practical projects.

El-Hefny stressed that the success of global governance should ultimately be measured not by the number of agreements signed or institutions established, but by improvements in people's lives, greater development opportunities and more equitable access to the benefits of technological progress.