The President of China, Xi Jinping, proposed the Global Governance Initiative during the Shanghai Cooperation summit in China and focused on the creation of a multipolar global order. Asking the leaders to collaborate with China on creating a multipolar global order, he said that he envisions a system where interest of every country is respected and fulfilled, and the new order prioritises the Global South. According to the President, the new order must be based on sovereign equality, which respects every country regardless of its size or economic power.
His vision envisaged respect for democracy and fostering international collaborations. Talking about upholding international laws laid out by the UN and promoting multilateralism, the statements come in the backdrop of the US tariffs on India and China. The President addressed the gathering before the Victory Day Parade in Beijing, where he spoke these words. The Prime Minister of India, who was in China for the SCO summit, was not a part of the victory day parade, which was marked to celebrate Japan’s defeat in World War 2.
The parade, where China is showcasing its military prowess, is attended by the President of Russia, Putin, and Kim Jong Un of North Korea. Addressing the leaders of the SCO, the President of China said that every member country should respect each other’s different opinions and interests and collaborate for a better and more peaceful world. Xi further stressed the bullying mentality of the Cold War era and asked leaders to refrain from it. Along with Putin and Kim Jong Un, the victory parade celebrated Japan’s surrender, and India’s absence from the event says a lot about the new India-China relationship.
While such a rhetoric is welcome, it is more complicated than it sounds. The global geopolitical situation has taken a U-turn, and for India, which is a part of Quad, its partnership and closeness with China will also play a role in future events.
