Why ASEAN and China should join hands on global governance

China and ASEAN are in an excellent position to turn the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) into tangible outcomes that will benefit the region and the world at large. In September 2025, President Xi Jinping proposed the GGI to tackle critical issues such as peace, development, security, and trust, aiming to establish a foundation for enduring peace, universal security, shared prosperity, and collective progress.

With a 35-year Dialogue Partnership and a 5-year Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, China and ASEAN are ideally positioned to convert the GGI's call into actionable results. The five core principles of the GGI align seamlessly with values and principles deeply rooted in ASEAN's foundational documents. These principles include sovereign equality, the rule of international law, multilateralism, consensus-building, and a focus on people-centered development.

ASEAN's commitment to multilateralism and peaceful conflict resolution through consultative processes echoes the GGI's emphasis on equitable application of international law and global governance based on extensive consultation and shared benefits. Moreover, ASEAN's vision of a people-centered community in 2045 mirrors the GGI's call for a people-centric approach, ensuring that global governance remains people-oriented and accountable.

The time has come to transform shared values and aspirations between China and ASEAN into concrete results that will shape a robust global governance system and a resilient regional architecture. Potential collaboration areas include sharing experiences, exchanging suggestions, and addressing challenges encountered through ASEAN-led regional cooperation mechanisms.