Better global governance, led by China and India

Introduction

In 2025, India–China ties turn 75 and the United Nations turns 80, as the world faces volatility, harmful ‘isms,’ and rising uncertainty. At the Tianjin SCO Summit, a Global Governance Initiative (GGI) was proposed to strengthen sovereign equality, rule of law, multilateralism, people-centred development, and practical results. With renewed India-China engagement, the moment calls for better global governance, not a new order, but a more effective one. Better global governance, led by China and India.

Global Governance

Global governance is how countries and other actors work together across borders to manage shared problems. It is different from national governance. It uses processes, institutions, and frameworks to align efforts for common goals.

Key Components of Global Governance:

International Organizations: Institutions such as the United Nations (UN), World Health Organization (WHO), and International Monetary Fund (IMF) play a central role in facilitating global governance.

Multilateral Agreements: Treaties and international frameworks, such as the Paris Agreement on climate change, help align national policies with global goals.

Non-State Actors: Civil society organizations, multinational corporations, and academic institutions increasingly influence global decision-making.

Key reasons for the need for global governance

1. Rising volatility and harmful “isms”: Unilateralism, protectionism, isolationism, separatism, terrorism, extremism, and hegemonism threaten order. Without joint rules and coordination, the risk of “jungle law” grows.
2. Shared health risks: COVID-19 showed why coordinated action, information-sharing, and equitable access matter. Strengthening global health governance prevents future crises and saves lives.
3. Climate action and sustainability: The world needs joint effort to cut emissions and protect global public goods such as oceans, climate, and forests.No country can protect them alone. Common rules and joint action help reduce emissions, manage resources, and address cross-border environmental harm.
4. Agenda 2030 implementation: The Sustainable Development Goals are universal. Progress needs cooperation across economic, social, and environmental areas. Global governance keeps focus on the goals, aligns actions, and supports countries to localise targets.
5. Financing for development: Delivering the SDGs needs predictable finance and capacity. The Addis Ababa Action Agenda offers a framework. Global governance helps mobilise resources, guide investments, and support countries that need assistance.
6. Peace, security, and stability: Conflicts and tensions spill across regions. Shared mechanisms for peacekeeping, dialogue, and dispute resolution lower the risk of escalation. Cooperation protects people and upholds basic rights.
7. Inclusive voice and fairness: Many countries seek a stronger role in decisions that affect them. Global governance can increase participation of developing countries and make processes more fair, transparent, and trusted.
8. Integrated and long-term coordination: Problems are interconnected, but institutions often work in silos. A coordinated system helps actors work together, review progress, and adjust course based on trends and evidence. This improves results and reduces duplication.

Challenges in Global Governance

1. National interests and fragmentation. Countries often prioritize national interests over collective action, making it difficult to reach consensus on global issues..
2. Lack of Accountability and Representation: Global governance institutions are often criticized for lacking transparency and failing to represent the voices of developing countries and marginalized communities.
3. Limited Enforcement Mechanisms: Unlike national governments, global governance bodies lack the authority to enforce decisions. They rely on cooperation and voluntary commitments from member states.
4. Institutional misalignment:

• Existing structures are not designed for problems that span multiple sectors. Mandates and workflows do not match integrated goals.
• Many global regimes cover overlapping areas. Links among them are unclear, which creates gaps and friction.

5. Localisation gap: Global targets often do not translate smoothly into national and sub-national plans. Ground-level adaptation remains uneven.
6. Financing gap: Financing frameworks exist on paper, yet policies and resources do not consistently align with agreed priorities. This slows delivery on commitments.
7. Short-term focus: Immediate shocks dominate attention. Trend tracking and timely course correction receive less sustained focus, which affects steady progress toward Agenda 2030.

Global Governance initiative (GGI)

The GGI, raised by the Chinese President at the 2025 Tianjin SCO Summit, addresses the governance deficit within the existing system. It seeks better action, effectiveness, adaptability, and service to all countries, especially developing countries.It draws from the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

Five basic principles:

1: Sovereign equality.

• Every country’s sovereignty and dignity must be respected.
• No country should interfere in another country’s internal affairs.
• Each nation should freely choose its own system and development path.
• All countries should take part in global decision-making as equals, with greater voice for developing countries.

2: International rule of law.

• The UN Charter is the basic guide for relations between countries.
• International law must apply to everyone in the same way, without double standards.
• Major powers should set an example by obeying and protecting these rules.

3: Multilateralism.

• Global issues should be discussed and decided by all countries together.
• ?The systems of global governance should be built and improved by all, and the benefits should be shared by all.
• The UN should remain the central platform for multilateral cooperation and be strengthened, not weakened

4: People-centred approach.

• People are the main actors and the final beneficiaries of global governance.
• Reforms should promote common development, protect people from shared risks, and improve everyday well-being.
• Policies should advance the common interests of different countries and communities.

5: Real results.

• Global governance must solve real problems, not just make promises.
• It should tackle both the immediate symptoms and the root causes of issues.
• Developed countries should carry their responsibilities and provide more resources and public goods.
• !Developing countries should work together and contribute their best efforts

Way forward

1. UN as coordination hub: Use the UN to convene, coordinate regimes, and give guidance. Promote integrated solutions that link economy, society, and environment.
2. High-Level Political Forum (HLPF): Let the HLPF review SDG progress, track emerging issues and long-term trends, mobilise political will, and support national, regional, and thematic reviews.
3. Implement Agenda 2030 with capacity and finance: Translate commitments into practice with Addis-aligned financing, localised targets, and capacity building. Keep a long-term focus on agreed goals.
4. Strengthen inclusion and voice: Enhance participation of developing countries in decision-making. Make processes fair, transparent, and representative.
5. India–China shared responsibility: As key members of SCO and BRICS, step up multilateralism, coordination on major issues, and defence of fairness and justice, guided by people’s well-being and long-term perspectives.

Conclusion

Better global governance is essential to meet health, climate, development, and security challenges. The GGI provides clear principles to renew cooperation within the existing system. With the UN at the core, inclusive reviews, and integrated action, implementation of Agenda 2030 can accelerate. India and China—as partners—can catalyse a fairer, more effective order that strengthens multilateralism and serves all peoples.