Abuja: The Counselor of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Nigeria, Dong Hairong, has urged Nigeria and African nations to capitalize on the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) framework to establish a more equitable and inclusive international system that supports the Global South.
According to Voice of Nigeria, Mr. Dong made this appeal at a seminar in Abuja focused on the Global Governance Initiative. The event, themed ‘Opportunities for China-Nigeria Cooperation under Good Governance Initiative (GGI),’ highlighted the GGI, which was proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 1st. This initiative, along with the Global Development Initiative (GDI), Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative, constitutes China’s strategy to foster a community with a shared future for humanity.
Mr. Dong emphasized that the current international environment is marked by changes and instability, necessitating a comprehensive approach to rectify issues within the global governance system. The GDI aims to tackle pressing global challenges by promoting joint efforts among nations and multilateral mechanisms to reform the global governance framework, ultimately benefiting all countries, especially those in the Global South.
Dong outlined the five core principles of the GGI: sovereign equality, rule of law, multilateralism, a people-centered approach, and concrete action. These principles have gained widespread global recognition, with Nigeria also adopting them. He reiterated China’s commitment to collaborating with African countries, including Nigeria, under the GDI framework to create a more just global governance system. This includes promoting reforms in the UN Security Council and international financial structures to address the under-representation of the Global South and rectify historical injustices.
Professor Sheriff Ibrahim, Director of the Center for Contemporary China-Africa Research, highlighted the necessity of global governance to find and manage collective solutions to international challenges. He urged Africa and Nigeria to reposition themselves within the global governance landscape by combating corruption, embracing democratic governance, and adopting a people-centered approach to development. He emphasized the importance of China and Africa speaking with a unified voice on the international stage.
Dr. Charles Onunaiju, Director of the Centre for China Studies, called for strategic collaborations beyond dialogue between Nigeria and China to advance the Initiative. He advocated for a Nigeria-China Joint Committee on the Exploration and Advancement of the GGI to design strategic roadmaps and action plans for the Initiative.
The seminar, organized by the Centre for Contemporary China-Africa Research and the Centre for China Studies, gathered diplomats, scholars, policymakers, and stakeholders to examine practical avenues for enhancing cooperation under the new framework.