The 2026 Global Governance Forum in Xiong’an New Area, Hebei Province, China, held from October 23-25, 2026, under the theme Restoring Trust and Enhancing Cooperation: Major Global Transformations and the Reform and Development of Global Governance, represents a new strategic platform aimed at establishing a more just and multilateral international system. This forum commemorates the first anniversary of China’s Global Governance Initiative (GGI). It attracted over 180 international guests from nearly 90 countries, particularly from the Global South. The forum was organized by the China People’s Diplomacy Association (CPIFA). Nearly 400 representatives, political figures, academics, and youth leaders from over 90 countries and international and regional organizations participated. More than 60 countries have joined the Group of Friends of Global Governance, and its core principles have been incorporated into the documents of several multilateral forums, including the G20, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and BRICS. The need to revitalize and strengthen the role of the United Nations and enhance its performance in addressing international challenges in the field of global governance was also emphasized.
Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message to the forum, noting that the world is undergoing rapid transformations and calling for adherence to a vision of global governance based on joint consultation and mutual benefit. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the Xiong’an Forum on Global Governance, conveying President Xi’s message and outlining eight practical measures for implementing China’s Global Governance Initiative. Discussions focused on strengthening the central role of the United Nations, increasing the representation of developing countries, safeguarding multilateral trade, and improving governance rules in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence. The forum also announced several initiatives, including the establishment of a Global Governance Research Center to publish annual indices and reports, as well as initiatives related to human rights, space, and artificial intelligence. In this context, Egypt and the Global South can benefit from this conference and its outcomes through several vital avenues, including:
– First: Consensus and Political Weight of the Global South at the Xiong’an Forum on Global Governance
The consensus and political weight of the Global South emerged as a fundamental pillar for reforming the international system. The forum, organized under the theme Rebuilding Trust and Cooperation, sought to translate the conceptual visions of China’s Global Governance Initiative into concrete implementation steps that strengthen the role of developing countries. The consensus and political weight of the Global South at the forum can be summarized through the following points:
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1) Reforming the International System: Discussions at the Xiong’an Forum on Global Governance in 2026, with clear support from Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, emphasized the necessity of reforming global governance, strengthening the role of the United Nations, and giving a stronger voice to the Global South in international political and economic decision-making.
2) The Egyptian-Chinese Partnership: The significant convergence between Cairo and Beijing on issues of multilateralism and development cooperation contributes to pushing the global governance system towards greater rationality and strengthens support for the issues of developing countries.
3) The Political Weight and Broad Diplomatic Representation of Developing Countries and Egypt as a Massive Voting and Dialogue Bloc: The forum was attended by approximately 400 officials and experts from more than 90 countries. Delegations from developing countries constituted the largest contingent, alongside representatives from Europe and America, reflecting the transformation of the Global South into an indispensable geopolitical bloc in shaping international decisions. This makes it a platform for expressing demands, as the forum provided a space for developing countries to call for an end to the governance deficit and address the structural imbalances in the current international system.
– Second: On the Fundamental Principles of Governance
The forum witnessed a close consensus between China and the Global South on several pillars for unifying international visions and efforts to strengthen global governance, consolidate stability, and address the challenges facing the world amidst rapid political and economic transformations. This was especially significant as the forum coincided with the one-year anniversary of the launch of the Global Governance Initiative, proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2025. The Chinese Global Governance Initiative aimed to address shortcomings in the international governance system and enhance cooperation among nations to build a community with a shared future for mankind. The most prominent fundamental principles agreed upon during the Xiong’an Global Governance Forum were:
1) Democratizing International Relations: Emphasizing the need to expand the participation of developing countries and the Global South in global decision-making to ensure greater fairness and equity.
2) Genuine Multilateralism: Adherence to a vision based on extensive consultation, joint contribution, and mutual benefits, and rejection of hegemony or unilateralism in managing international crises.
3) Development Centrality: Agreement on keeping development at the heart of the international agenda and supporting the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as the top priority for developing countries.
– Third: Technology, Smart Capacity Building, and Artificial Intelligence
The influence of the Global South has not been limited to traditional issues. Consensus has extended to shaping the governance of emerging fields to prevent their monopolization by developed countries and to establish rules of engagement in emerging areas. This is achieved through:
1) Advocating for AI Governance: Strong discussions have emerged regarding the development of a comprehensive and equitable AI governance framework that ensures developing countries benefit from the technology and bridges the digital divide. In addition to adopting the global commons approach, participants called for the formulation of equitable rules, in which developing countries participate, for the management and exploration of the deep sea, polar regions, and outer space.
2) Xiong’an Model as a City of the Future: The forum was held in the Xiong’an New Area, a fully smart city that relies on artificial intelligence and green infrastructure. These meetings and field visits allowed countries of the Global South and Egypt to observe this experience and learn from it, with the aim of transferring urban management and technological practices and implementing them locally.
3) AI Capacity Building Initiative: Through the forum, China urged countries of the Global South to actively participate in AI capacity-building initiatives to bridge the digital divide and leverage biotechnology for development.
– Fourth: Shared Economic and Trade Gains for the Global South at the Xiong’an Forum on Global Governance in China
The Xiong’an Forum on Global Governance 2026 offers strategic and tangible economic and trade gains for the Global South, based on promoting fairness in the international trade and cooperation system. Held under the theme Rebuilding Trust and Cooperation, the forum reflects the efforts of China and the Global South to translate political consensus into concrete development and economic projects. The most prominent shared economic and trade gains are outlined below:
1) A Surge in Development Exports: On the sidelines of the forum, the significant economic momentum between the two countries was highlighted, with Egyptian chemical and fertilizer exports to China experiencing a substantial increase, reflecting the practical dimension of South-South cooperation.
2) Sustainable Belt and Road Initiatives: The focus on improving economic governance paves the way for increased Chinese investment in the Global South, with particular emphasis on environmental and climate governance and multilateral trade.
3) Tariff exemptions and broad market access: During the forum, China announced its commitment to providing duty-free access for products from all African countries and least developed countries with which it has diplomatic relations. This measure represents a significant boost to exports from developing countries to the vast Chinese market.
4) Trade governance reform and level playing field: Participating countries, with Beijing’s support, called for reform of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and international financial institutions. China abandoned its demand for special and preferential treatment in its negotiations within the WTO, paving the way for a multilateral trading environment that provides fair and equal opportunities for developing economies.
5) Trade and investment dispute resolution mechanisms: The establishment of new international mechanisms, such as the International Centre for Settlement of International Economic and Trade Disputes (ICTID), was highlighted. These mechanisms aim to resolve disputes independently and amicably, reducing the legal and financial burdens on developing countries in their intra-regional and international trade.
6) Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence as an Economic Lever: Discussions focused on the Global Organization for Cooperation in Artificial Intelligence and exploring ways to bridge the digital divide. These approaches enable countries of the Global South to benefit from technology transfer and digital capacity building to develop their future economies.
7) Leveraging the Sustainable Development Model (Xiong’an Model): The Xiong’an New Area represents a practical model for a smart and green city of the future based on innovation and environmental integration. Hosting the forum in this city provides an opportunity for countries of the Global South to learn from Chinese experiences in areas such as advanced infrastructure, renewable energy management, and low-carbon economies.
8) Financing Development and Rejecting Unilateral Policies: The forum provided a collective platform to reject protectionist trade policies and unilateral sanctions that harm global supply chains. The forum called for expanding and distributing the gains of development more equitably to ensure the flow of investments towards vital projects in countries of the Global South.
– Fifth: Mechanisms for Supporting New Capacities and Institutions, and Supporting Research Centers and Initiatives During the Xiong’an Forum on Global Governance in China
To bolster this political weight and translate consensus into reality, China announced initiatives during the forum that directly support countries of the Global South, including:
1) Establishing a Global Governance Research Center: To provide academic and intellectual support and publish the Global Governance Index, China announced plans to establish a research center dedicated to global governance reform, called the Global Governance Index. This center will provide intellectual and academic support to countries of the Global South and Egypt in formulating independent development policies.
2) Workshops on Economic and Social Rights: To support capacity building in developing countries and help them achieve balanced development. China affirmed its commitment to organizing capacity-building workshops to support developing countries in integrating development and economic rights into the international governance agenda.
Accordingly, we understand the extent to which China, through its convening of the Xiong’an Forum on Global Governance and its adoption of the Global Initiative on Global Governance in 2025, seeks to contribute to building a more just, inclusive, and sustainable international system, especially in light of current transformations that necessitate strengthening collective action and expanding international participation in shaping decisions that affect the future of humanity. China has declared its adherence to the principles of fairness and justice in international and regional issues, its support for ceasefires and the cessation of hostilities in the Middle East and around the world, its support for the issues of the Global South, and its commitment to promoting open and shared development for a shared future for humanity.
