This year’s Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin marked the largest gathering in the organisation’s history, drawing more than 20 heads of state and 10 representatives of international organisations. At the SCO+ session, China’s Head of State and Party Leader Xi Jinping delivered a keynote address, prominently unveiling the Global Governance Initiative (GGI). For Beijing, development, security, civilisation, and governance constitute the four pillars of building a “community with a shared future for mankind”, in essence, a new world order. Amid today’s ongoing upheavals, it is imperative for Germany and Europe to recognize China as a global strategic challenge.
In addition to the joint sessions of the SCO summit in Tianjin on August 31 and September 1, 2025, Xi Jinping held a series of bilateral meetings. These encounters simultaneously illustrated his pledge of inclusivity – granting equal attention to both major powers (such as India and Kazakhstan) and smaller states (such as Armenia and Belarus) – and embodied China’s model of multilateralism, rooted in a web of bilateral ties. The diversity of participating countries highlights Beijing’s drive to deepen transregional connectivity and broaden market access. Observer states (such as Armenia and Azerbaijan), dialogue partners (such as Cambodia and Myanmar), and guest states (such as Vietnam and Indonesia) all took part. Most notable, however, was the attendance of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Returning after seven years, Modi’s presence suggests both the possibility of a renewed Sino-Indian rapprochement and Beijing’s determination to draw New Delhi into its project of shaping the international order.
By presenting the GGI, Xi addressed an audience drawn from multiple regions. Central to the initiative are five principles. The first is the preservation of sovereign equality, regardless of a nation’s size or its political and economic weight. Here, China emphasizes a shared sentiment with many Global South states that they remain underrepresented in today’s international system. Within this framing, Beijing consistently advocates a “democratization of international relations”. What stands out, especially for European observers, is the deliberate reinterpretation and deployment of familiar political terminology by Chinese diplomacy.
Second, China calls for respect for international law, the United Nations (UN) Charter, and the generally recognized norms of international relations. This commitment is echoed in numerous foreign policy documents, including the 2023 Global Security Initiative (GSI) concept paper, which emphasizes the need to respect sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the principles enshrined in the UN Charter. At the same time, it stresses the importance of taking the “legitimate security concerns” of all states into account. From a European perspective, however, such claims often appear contradictory (see the box below), particularly in the context of the GGI announcement and Russia’s prominent role at the SCO summit.
Third, China emphasizes the implementation of multilateral cooperation as a cornerstone of international relations. In this regard, the GGI adopts elements from the Belt and Road Initiative, particularly the formula of “joint consultation, joint contribution, and joint benefit”. From Beijing’s perspective, these principles stand in contrast to Western – or specifically United States (US) – dominated decision-making processes. They underscore shared responsibility among all participants, rather than the coercive influence of a few, and promote the notion of win-win cooperation.
Fourth, China promotes a “people-centred” approach, a formulation deeply embedded in Chinese Communist Party (CCP) discourse and now projected onto the international stage. Through this narrative, Beijing positions itself as moving beyond bloc politics to address global challenges, such as poverty reduction, connectivity, health, and climate protection. China presents itself as an advocate of development for all, framing this principle as central to a new international order, as the leadership previously did in the context of its Global Development Initiative.
Fifth, China emphasizes the importance of implementing the GGI. The focus, Xi stresses, is not on rhetoric but on tangible results. In this sense, the SCO itself is already framed as both a model and an embodiment of the initiative. More broadly, Beijing seeks to foster alignment with Chinese concepts and norms across various international contexts. In this way, Chinese ideas and concepts can be established as the basis for a new world order. At the same time, the CPC is consolidating its international autonomy, particularly in relation to the US and Europe.
About the author:
Dr Nadine Godehardt is a Senior Associate in the Asia Research Division at SWP.
Dr Maximilian Mayer is Junior Professor of International Relations and Global Technology Politics at the University of Bonn.