A senior Chinese diplomat has renewed calls for a more democratic and inclusive global order as member states of the Group of Friends of Global Governance met at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to discuss reforms to the international system.
Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, addressed the meeting, outlining what he described as a shared consensus among participating countries on five core principles aimed at strengthening and reforming global governance.
According to Wang, member states reaffirmed support for the democratisation of international relations, stressing that all countries, regardless of size, wealth or military strength, should have equal rights to choose their development paths and participate in global decision-making processes.
The meeting also emphasised adherence to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, including respect for sovereign equality and international law, while rejecting double standards, unilateral pressure and coercive practices in global affairs.
Participants further backed a stronger role for the United Nations as the cornerstone of the international system, calling for renewed commitment to multilateralism and stronger international cooperation in addressing global challenges.
Wang said members opposed “power politics” and stressed the need to safeguard the authority of international institutions in tackling global issues.
A major focus of the discussions was reforming global governance structures to address inequalities between developed and developing countries. The group called for efforts to narrow the North-South divide and ensure the benefits of development are more evenly shared.
The member states also stressed that no country should be left behind in global development efforts, amid concerns among developing nations about unequal access to finance, technology and influence in international institutions.
In addition, participants called for more action-oriented cooperation to address economic instability, climate change and security challenges, stressing that global governance systems must evolve to reflect present realities and deliver tangible benefits to citizens.
The Group of Friends of Global Governance is a platform within the United Nations that promotes dialogue on reforming international governance structures and expanding the representation of developing countries in global decision-making.
The latest meeting reflects growing international debate over reforms to the UN system, global financial institutions and multilateral development frameworks amid changing global power dynamics and increasing calls for a more balanced international order.
Michael Olugbode
