The 2026 Global Governance Forum (Xiong'an) opened in Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei Province on Friday, drawing about 400 officials from around the world to tackle a shared challenge -- restoring trust, rebuilding cooperation, and reforming global governance in a rapidly transforming world.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi read out a letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping and delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony.
"The world is undergoing accelerated transformation unseen in a century, and the deficits in peace, development, security and governance are growing rather than diminishing. I have put forward the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) to promote the building of a more just and equitable global governance system and a better world," said Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, while reading the letter from Xi.
Chinese officials emphasized that amid intensifying global turbulence, upholding the foundational principles of the UN Charter, championing multilateralism, and building broader international consensus under the United Nations flag are more vital than ever.
The GGI has already garnered support from over 160 countries and international organizations. Against a backdrop of pressing global challenges ranging from climate change to ongoing conflicts, participants at the meeting stressed the urgency of incorporating diverse perspectives into international dialogue.
"It is extremely important to underline how China has, for very good reasons, pushed that agenda forward, has joined many initiatives, has been mentioned now by His Excellency the minister of foreign affairs. International law is indeed center stage in such forums. And we are very proud to associate with China's efforts in that regard, so that wars have limits, that the suffering of people is considered through different prisms," said Patrick G. Youssef, head of the Regional Delegation for East Asia, International Committee of the Red Cross.
Erik Solheim, co-chair of the Europe-Asia Center and former UN Deputy Secretary General, echoed the call for unity, emphasizing that today's transnational challenges cannot be tackled in isolation.
"We cannot solve them one country by themselves. We need to find a common solution. We've worked together, we are stronger. It's nothing like a zero-sum game. All the big issues of our time, we can win together or lose together," he said.
As the forum continues, discussions are set to focus on translating shared aspirations into practical action across multiple fronts, including artificial intelligence. By combining multilateral cooperation, sustainable development, and civilizational exchange, the dialogue aims to forge tangible solutions and renew confidence in global governance for the future.
Hosted by the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs, the three-day forum is being held under the theme "Rebuilding Confidence and Cooperation: Reforming and Improving Global Governance in a Transforming World."
Global Governance Forum opens in Xiongan with focus on multilateral cooperation
