Global security initiative

In April 2022, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Security Initiative (GSI) at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference. In February of this year, China released the Concept Paper of the GSI, proposing 20 priorities of cooperation under this framework, as well as suggestions for the platforms and mechanisms of cooperation.

The GSI is a complete system and is the result of applying the Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy to the field of international security. It also improves and goes beyond the Western theory of geopolitical security.

The initiative is underpinned by ‘six commitments’ – staying committed to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security; staying committed to respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries; staying committed to abiding by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter; staying committed to taking the legitimate security concerns of all countries seriously; staying committed to peacefully resolving differences and disputes between countries through dialogue and consultation; and staying committed to maintaining security in both traditional and non-traditional domains. These six commitments are interlinked and mutually reinforcing, including macro thinking of top-level design as well as methods and pathways for addressing practical issues. They form an organic whole of dialectical unity.

Through the GSI, China seeks to work with the international community in upholding the spirit of the UN Charter, and calls for adapting to the profound changes in the international landscape through solidarity, addressing traditional and non-traditional security risks and challenges with a win-win mindset, and creating a new path to security that features dialogue over confrontation, partnership over alliance, and win-win results over zero-sum game.

Over the past year and more, the GSI has been widely welcomed and warmly received by the international community. It has received support and appreciation from more than 100 countries and international and regional organizations, and has been written into a large number of bilateral and multilateral exchange and cooperation documents between China and other countries and international organizations. Steady progress has been made in cooperation under the GSI framework.

As a responsible major country, China actively implements the GSI, making significant contributions to the maintenance of world peace and security.

First, China has actively participated in and promoted multilateral security cooperation. It has dispatched the most peacekeepers among the permanent members of the UN Security Council and is the second largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping budget. China firmly supports the global process of conventional arms control, and has completed its ratification of the UN Firearms Protocol. It supports the implementation of the ‘Silencing the Guns in Africa’ initiative. The country is actively engaged in international humanitarian demining cooperation, contributing to helping countries in the region eliminate this hazard and enhance the security and wellbeing of the people.

Second, China has actively carried out mediation diplomacy and made unremitting efforts to promote political settlement of hotspot issues. China’s Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis and China’s Position on the Afghan Issue both stand firmly on the side of peace. China successfully mediated the reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which set a fine example for regional countries to resolve disagreements through dialogue and consultation and achieve neighbourly relations and friendship.

Since the latest outbreak of conflict between Palestine and Israel, China has actively communicated and coordinated with the relevant parties, sent a special envoy to visit regional countries, and provided humanitarian assistance to Palestine immediately. China is working for a de-escalation of the situation, and to prevent the expansion of the fighting and a humanitarian disaster, in a bid to create conditions for a political settlement.

Third, China has engaged actively in cooperation with all parties in such nontraditional security areas as counterterrorism, cybersecurity, food security and climate change. The country has successfully held the first meeting of the China-Pakistan-Iran trilateral consultation on counterterrorism and security.

It has proposed the International Cooperation Initiative on Global Food Security under the framework of the G20, launched the center for disaster prevention and mitigation cooperation between China and Pacific Island countries, and promoted the establishment of a global law enforcement and security training system. China has also launched the Global Initiative on Data Security and the Global Initiative for Artificial Intelligence Governance, leading the international security governance process in emerging areas.

Fourth, China has actively facilitated the improvement of international security dialogue and exchange platforms and mechanisms. China worked together with African countries to hold the China-Horn of Africa First Peace, Governance and Development Conference, successfully held the Second Middle East Security Forum, also actively facilitated exchanges and cooperation on security among various parties under multilateral frameworks such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia and East Asian cooperation mechanisms.

China has continued to develop platforms for international security dialogue such as the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, Conference of Global Public Security Cooperation Forum (Lianyungang), China-Africa Peace and Security Forum and China-Latin America Defense Forum to build consensus and synergy of the international community to meet security challenges.

China attaches importance to Pakistan’s vital role in maintaining global and regional peace and security and is willing to work together with Pakistan as well as the international community, to firmly uphold the UN-centered international system, the international order underpinned by international law.

China is committed to tirelessly promoting world multipolarity and democratization of international relations, advocating and practicing genuine multilateralism, uniting with Global South countries, opposing any form of hegemony and bullying, pushing for the improvement of global security governance, facilitating political resolutions to international and regional hotspot issues, and injecting more stability and positive energy into the complex and varied international situation.

The writer is the consul-general of China in Karachi.