By: Mnena Iyorkegh, Abuja
The Counselor, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Nigeria, Dong Hairong, has called on Nigeria and Africa to harness the framework of the Global Governance Initiative, (GGI) to build a more just and inclusive international system that promotes the Global South.
Mr. Donge, made the call in Abuja, at a Seminar on Global Governance Initiative, with the theme: “Opportunities for China-Nigeria Cooperation under Good Governance Initiative (GGI”).
He explained the Global Governance Initiative proposed by the Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 1st.
“Together with the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, form the four pillars of China’s thought on how to build a community with a shared future for mankind.”
He said that the current international landscape was undergoing changes and turbulence, which called for a more holistic approach in addressing the problems existing in the global governance system .
“In response to the pressing global challenges and a call for building a fairer and more equitable inclusive international system, GDI has been proposed. It focuses on exploring paths and methods to improve global governance through the joint efforts of all the countries and multilateral mechanisms.
“GDI, is expected to serve as a new platform and a new opportunity for reforming the global governance system and transforming the global order, which is beneficial to all the nations, including the global south,” he said.
According to Dong, the GGI rests on five core principles, which are: sovereign equality, rule of law, multilateralism, a people-centered approach, and concrete action, noting that these concepts have received broad recognition globally and with Nigeria also adopting it.
“China has been and is always willing to cooperate, work with African friends, including Nigeria, under the framework of GDI to build a more just and equitable global governance system, to promote reforms in the UN Security Council and the international financial architecture, to address the under-representation of the global south and to correct the historical injustice, to make the existing international system and international institutions better,” he added.
In the presentation on GGI and the Imperative for Reforms in Global Institution, the Director, Center for Contemporary China-Africa Research, Professor Sheriff Ibrahim, stressed that the goal of global governance is to find and manage collective solutions to global challenges.
“The system aims to facilitate decision-making and co-operation among international actors, including states.
“Africa and Nigeria should reposition themselves to better fit into global governance, vehemently fight corruption, embrace rule of democracy and provide a people centred approach for development, China and Africa should continue to speak with one voice, representing China-Africa interest at the international level,” he said.
Also speaking, the Director, Centre for China Studies, Dr. Charles Onunaiju, called on Nigeria and China to go beyond dialogue to initiate strategic collaborations that would deliver actionable plans advancing the Initiative.
“Only the People-centered approach to global governance can guarantee and deliver tangible results.
“We hereby call for the establishment of a Nigeria-China Joint Committee on the Exploration and Advancement of the GGI, a platform to leverage the existing inter-government committee with possible expansion to include Think-Tanks from both sides. (It) should be immediately empaneled to design strategic roadmap and action plans for the Global Governance Initiative,” he said.
The meeting which brought together diplomats, scholars, policymakers, and stakeholders to explore practical pathways for deepening cooperation under the new framework, was organised by the Centre for Contemporary China-Africa Research and the Centre for China Studies.
Oyenike Oyeniyi