Tianjin — Chinese President Xi Jinping used the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin to call for a new global governance initiative aimed at building a fairer international system.

“I would like to put forward a global governance initiative and work with all countries to jointly create a more just and equitable international system, fostering a community with a shared future for mankind,” Xi said during an expanded meeting of the summit.

Xi stressed that all nations, regardless of size, strength, or wealth, should have equal rights and opportunities in global governance. He urged greater representation for developing countries and called for the “democratization of international relations.”

The Chinese leader emphasized the need to respect international law, reject double standards, and avoid imposing one nation’s internal policies on others. He added that global governance should be based on consultation, shared resources, and collective decision-making, dismissing unilateral approaches as unacceptable.

Xi’s proposal also seeks to ensure the benefits of governance are broadly shared and to reduce the development gap between the global North and South.

The SCO summit in Tianjin, running from August 31 to September 1, has drawn Russian President Vladimir Putin, North korean Leader kim , Indian Pm Modi and leaders from more than 20 countries, and representatives of 10 international organizations.