Currently, changes unseen in a century are unfolding at a faster pace, and humanity are faced with deficit of governance, trust, development and peace. In a world of change and disorder on the security front, President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Security Initiative (GSI) in April 2022. The GSI, serving the common well-being of humanity, advocates a new path to security featuring dialogue over confrontation, partnership over alliance and win-win over zero-sum. The GSI has provided China’s proposal for addressing the peace deficit and international security challenges.

The GSI is underpinned by “six commitments”, namely, 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. The GSI is in line with the shared aspiration for peace, security and development and the common interest of the international community. Since it was put forward, the GSI has been warmly received by the international community. Over 80 countries and international organizations have expressed appreciation or support for the GSI, and the Initiative has been included in more than 20 bilateral and multilateral documents between China and relevant countries and organizations.

In February 2023, almost one year after the GSI was put forward, the Chinese government issued The Global Security Initiative Concept Paper, explaining the core concepts and principles of the “six commitments” and outlining 20 priorities of cooperation and five platforms and mechanisms of cooperation. The concept paper has provided a more systemic approach and more practical measures to address global security challenges, laid out a path to further deepen and substantiate the GSI, and pointed out the direction for safeguarding world peace and security.

As an ancient Chinese adage goes, “One must not change his commitment or give up his pursuit even in the face of danger and risk.” China has proposed the GSI, and has been action-oriented in safeguarding world peace and tranquility. As for the Ukraine crisis that is still going on, China has stood on the side of peace and justice, and exerted great efforts to facilitate peace talks and cessation of hostilities, working for a political settlement of the crisis. President Xi Jinping has had talks with leaders from relevant sides for resolving the crisis through political means. In his recent telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the latter’s request, President Xi noted clearly that dialogue and negotiation are the only viable way forward. In April 2023, under China’s active mediation, Saudi Arabia and Iran announced the resumption of diplomatic ties in Beijing. This is a successful practice of the GSI, and has set a fine example for countries in the same region to resolve disputes and differences and realize good-neighborliness through dialogue and consultation.

China’s strategic planning of implementing the GSI and promoting common security can be seen in the 20 priorities and the platforms and mechanisms of cooperation in the concept paper. In implementing the GSI, China will work with other countries and international organizations to promote synergy between security concepts and convergence of interests. The priorities of cooperation include actively participating in formulating a New Agenda for Peace and peace keeping operations of the UN, promoting coordination and sound interaction among major countries, firmly opposing a nuclear war, safeguarding the nuclear non-proliferation regime, promoting political settlement of international and regional hotspot issues through peace talks as the main means, supporting and promoting traditional and non-traditional security cooperation and settlement of hotspot issues in ASEAN, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Caribbean region, and Pacific island countries, and promoting global cooperation on counter-terrorism, climate change, public health, food and energy security, information security, biosecurity, new technology security, maritime and outer space security, among others.

As an international public good, the GSI upholds the happiness and tranquility of people from around the world. China welcomes and looks forward to the participation in the GSI by Belgium and other EU countries so as to substantiate the Initiative, jointly tackle traditional and non-traditional security challenges, explore new means and areas of cooperation, and safeguard global peace and tranquility.