Illustration: Liu Rui/GT

Editor's Note：

In this pivotal year of 2025 - commemorating both the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the UN - Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Governance Initiative (GGI), offering Chinese wisdom and solutions to further strengthen and improve global governance. What can we expect from the GGI? Erik Solheim (Solheim), former under-secretary-general of the UN and former executive director of the UN Environment Programme, shared his views with Global Times (GT) reporter Li Aixin in an exclusive interview.

GT: In your view, why is the GGI needed?

Solheim: I believe the initiative has two main elements: First, it aims to create a global governance system that reflects the world of 2025, with the rise of the Global South - China, India, Brazil, Indonesia and many other developing countries. It's a completely different world from the one in which the UN was formed in 1945.

Second, it seeks to build a global governance system focused on delivering results for people: better education, improved health, longer life expectancy and better infrastructure. In all these areas, China can contribute more than any other nation because of the efficiency of its economic system.

Look at the UN, which was formed in 1945, along with other institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. At the time, it was fantastic. Credit should be given for establishing this global organization, amid the struggle against Japanese militarism and Nazi Germany. But that was a very different world from the one we live in today. Unfortunately, the UN has not been able to evolve to address the issues of today. The GGI sets out the principles for a new multilateralism, based on the fact that the Global South is now a dominant force in the world.

GT: Which aspects of the GGI do you believe resonate most strongly with the international community? 

Solheim: I think nearly all countries strongly support the principle of sovereign equality. We need to defend the sovereignty of Ukraine, but we also need to defend the sovereignty of Palestine. 

Consider Africa, with its 54 nations: Many of their borders do not follow natural features and often divide tribal or ethnic groups. If we resort to war to solve such issues, it would lead to endless conflicts. That's why we need to defend the sovereignty of all countries. A few major powers may disagree, but the vast majority agree.

Sovereignty should be at the core of global governance, and states' internal affairs should not be subject to external interference. China has no interest in interfering in the internal affairs of the US or European countries and is not deploying funds or military force to do so. The US, in particular, needs to learn from major powers of the Global South that we can create a much better world, where we allow the American people to decide what's right for America, and the Chinese people to decide what's right for China.

GT: Do you think the core spirit and values of the GGI are already reflected in existing examples of cooperation between China and other countries? 

Solheim: China is now the main provider of green development, essentially everywhere in the world. Anyone who wants to go green will have to base it on Chinese solar panels, Chinese electric batteries and many other Chinese technologies. We also wish to see more Chinese investments in other parts of the world.

There are other promising examples. China has made a very brave and important commitment: It will fully deliver on zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines given to least developed countries that have diplomatic relations with China and Africa countries, so as to share development opportunities more widely. That's brilliant. 

We see a lot of this, and a very important part of the GGI is shifting the focus from procedures, bureaucracy and international institutions to tangible deliverables: better roads, railways, better education, longer life expectancy and better health. These are what the people of the world desire. The UN and all other international institutions need to deliver on these. 

The GGI is a very good platform for advancing the ideas, such as giving more power to the Global South and improving the UN Security Council to reflect the new realities of the world. Furthermore, there should be a much stronger focus on results. This is what is expected. I believe that the GGI will serve as the platform for developments.