The 2022 Bo’ao Forum for Asia marked a significant moment in international diplomacy as President Xi Jinping unveiled China’s “Global Security Initiative” (GSI). This initiative, which follows the principles of common, cooperative, comprehensive, and sustainable security, underscores China’s commitment and vision to respecting the sovereignty and integrity of all nations. This initiative is a pivotal step in aligning China’s foreign policy with the vision of shared global security.
China has always upheld the principles of the United Nations Charter, which encourages peaceful dialogue and discussion to settle differences and conflicts in order to provide security in both traditional and non-traditional spheres. China additionally takes seriously the legitimate security concerns of all other countries.
President Xi’s diplomatic initiatives and the GSI shared a common goal: the pursuit of a “shared future for mankind. This initiative was designed to project China’s commitment to peaceful cooperation, mutual benefit, and modernization based on its unique and holistic approach. China’s dedication to common, comprehensive, equitable, cooperative, and sustainable security shows China’s commitment to sustainable and inclusive global peace.
Goals and Vision
The security initiative’s primary objective is to address the root causes of international conflicts and enhance global security governance, aiming to foster collaborative international efforts to bring stability and certainty to our world, thereby advancing global stability and development. President Xi Jinping pursued this framework with Chinese characteristics, creating an environment conducive to the realization of the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation and greater engagement with the world.
As a world gripped by many challenges, China’s commitment to the global peace initiative is a clear indication of its dedication to solving systemic security challenges and exploring new avenues for global cooperation. It was a call to prioritize dialogue over confrontation, partnership over alliance, and win-win over zero-sum thinking. Xi’s four-point proposal, emphasizing mutual respect, fairness, justice, trust, and inclusiveness, formed the cornerstone of this vision.
These approaches address the world’s security needs in the face of unprecedented challenges. In today’s global reality, traditional and non-traditional threats necessitate holistic approaches to international and regional security, making the GSI a timely and imperative call to action.
The security interests of every country are equal, and any endeavor to increase one’s own security by exploiting the unrest in another nation is not in step with the times. Any country should consider the legitimate security demands and concerns of other countries while pursuing its own security interests. In order to attain universal and common security, the Global Security Initiative supports the notion of the indivisibility of security and promotes the development of a balanced, productive, and long-term framework for security.
All nations in the world must cooperate, uphold true multilateralism, put the idea of global governance into practice, engage in common construction and sharing, and create a balanced, effective, and sustainable security architecture in order to address the changing nature of the world, the changing times, and the changing course of history, as well as regional security conflicts and tumultuous situations. China has demonstrated its vigour and commitment as the Global Security Initiative’s creator and its supporter in maintaining international stability and equity by actively participating in the resolution of security hotspots, engaging in multilateral cooperation, and contributing to the reform of the global security governance system.
Shared Security
China’s commitment to shared security was evident in its engagement across various domains, from counterterrorism and digital governance to food security and climate change. Its involvement in the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s South-South Cooperation Program and substantial agricultural technical assistance to developing countries highlighted its dedication to global well-being. China’s extensive participation in peacekeeping missions, dispatching over 50,000 personnel in the last three decades, showcased its active role in maintaining peace. It was the largest contributor among the UN Security Council’s permanent members in terms of peacekeepers and played a significant role in funding UN initiatives for peace and security.
China’s mediation diplomacy
Furthermore, China’s mediation diplomacy is guided by the Global Security Initiative. For example, China mediated between Saudi Arabia and Iran, facilitating the restoration of diplomatic relations. This diplomatic breakthrough opened the door to peace in the Middle East, exemplifying the effectiveness of dialogue and consultation in resolving disputes.
The “wave of reconciliation” demonstrated the crucial role of dialogue and consultation in promoting peace and stability, in contrast to the ineffectiveness of war and sanctions. China’s 12-point proposal to end the Ukraine crisis has also reaffirmed the importance of dialogue and negotiation as the only viable paths to peace. This approach, in stark contrast to competing security concepts, emphasized mutual respect, fairness, justice, trust, and inclusiveness.
China’s commitment to guiding the international community in understanding its principles and concepts on global security issues was evident. It actively facilitated peace talks and engagement with relevant parties, exemplifying its dedication to conflict resolution through peaceful means.
The Global Security Initiative has also given countries an opportunity to collaborate on challenges like nonproliferation and counterterrorism, as well as resources to address environmental and public health issues on a global scale.
Conclusion
In conclusion, China’s Global Security Initiative represents a significant step towards fostering a community of shared security for humanity. It emphasized true multilateralism and the collective address of traditional and non-traditional security challenges. In a world fraught with uncertainties, supporting the vision of “indivisible peace” was imperative to encourage sustainable development and enhance resilience against threats. China remained committed to collaborating with other countries in pursuit of these common goals, underscoring its role as a responsible global actor dedicated to the well-being of all humankind.

Mr. Ovais Ali Khokhar, Chairman, Board of Experts, Pakistan Research Center for a Community with Shared Future