Beijing: China will host an international forum next week to discuss practical ways to improve global governance, as Beijing seeks to advance its proposals for stronger international cooperation and a greater role for developing countries in global decision making.
The Global Governance Forum is scheduled to take place from October 23 to 25 in Xiongan New Area in Hebei province, northern China. The Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs is organising the meeting under the theme of rebuilding trust and confidence.
Around 180 foreign guests and more than 200 Chinese participants are expected to attend, according to a report published on Friday. About 70 per cent of attendees are expected to be experts, academics and prominent figures working in areas including climate change, artificial intelligence and trade.
Wu Ken, president of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs, said the forum aims to identify practical solutions to problems facing the international community. However, the specific proposals and outcomes expected from the meeting have not yet been established.
The forum is part of China's wider effort to promote its Global Governance Initiative, introduced by President Xi Jinping in September 2025. The initiative sets out Beijing's vision for improving international cooperation and reforming the way global affairs are managed.
China argues that the current international system needs to become more representative and responsive to the needs of countries around the world. It has called for developing countries to have a stronger voice in international institutions and in decisions that affect their economies, security and future development.
The initiative is built around five main principles. These are sovereign equality, the rule of international law, multilateralism, a people centred approach and practical action.
Sovereign equality means that countries should be treated equally in international affairs, regardless of their size or economic strength. The principle of international law stresses the importance of the United Nations Charter and agreed international rules.
Multilateralism refers to countries working together to address common problems rather than relying only on individual national decisions. The people centred approach focuses on making global governance more responsive to people's needs, while practical action calls for cooperation to deliver results rather than remain limited to statements and discussions.
China has presented the initiative as an effort to strengthen the existing international system, with the United Nations continuing to play a central role. Beijing argues that international institutions must adapt to changing global conditions and give greater consideration to the interests of developing countries.
In June 2026, China published a white paper outlining its principles, proposals and actions for what it describes as a more just and equitable global governance system. The document expanded on the initiative and identified areas where Beijing believes international cooperation needs to improve.
These include international financial arrangements, trade, climate change, artificial intelligence, cyberspace and outer space. Such issues increasingly require cooperation between governments because decisions in one country can have consequences beyond its borders.
China has said that its initiative received support from nearly 160 countries and international organisations. This figure was reported in the Chinese government's white paper. However, it does not establish that all those countries and organisations have formally adopted every part of the initiative.
The initiative has also received attention at the United Nations. In September 2025, UN Secretary General AntĂłnio Guterres welcomed its emphasis on multilateralism and the importance of maintaining the United Nations at the centre of the international system. The UN also expressed its readiness to work with China and other member states on efforts to improve global governance.
The initiative comes at a time when countries continue to debate how international institutions should respond to changing political and economic realities. Developing countries have called for greater representation in global decision making, while major powers hold different views on the distribution of influence and the rules governing international relations.
China's proposals therefore carry both diplomatic and geopolitical significance. Greater representation for developing countries is an important issue for many governments, particularly those seeking more influence over international economic policies and decisions on climate change, technology and security.
At the same time, questions remain about how China's proposals would be implemented and how they would fit into existing international institutions. Calls for reform do not automatically lead to changes in international rules or decision making.
The upcoming forum provides an opportunity for participants to discuss these questions and explore areas where countries may be able to work together. Its emphasis on practical solutions suggests that the organisers want discussions to address specific international problems rather than remain at the level of broad principles.
However, the forum has yet to take place, and no specific agreements or binding commitments arising from it have been established. Its significance will depend partly on the proposals discussed, the level of agreement among participants and whether practical steps follow the meeting.
China's central message is that global governance must become more inclusive and effective in addressing shared challenges. The October forum will offer a further opportunity for Beijing to present that vision and seek wider engagement with its proposals.