On 1 and 2 October 2023, an article titled “GSI: China’s Proposal on the Improvement of Global Security Governance” by Mr. Wang Hao, Chargé d’Affairs a.i., was published on Daily Times and Nation. Here is full text of the article :

Today, our world, our times and history are changing in ways like never before. The competition between major powers is intensifying, geopolitical conflicts are escalating, the global security governance system is woefully lagging behind, and traditional and non-traditional security threats keep flaring up. The world is once again at a crossroads in history. What security concepts does the world need? How can countries achieve common security? These are the questions of this era facing us all.

“Security is the precondition for development. We humanity are living in an indivisible security community”. To promote security for all in the world, Chinese President Xi Jinping first proposed the Global Security Initiative (GSI) at the Opening Ceremony of the Bo’ao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2022. The GSI calls for all countries to uphold the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, pursue the long-term objective of building a security community, and work together to build a world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity. GSI has been warmly received by the international community upon its introduction. Over 100 countries and international organizations have expressed their appreciation and support.

The GSI is a complete system with rich meaning. It is informed by a big picture of overarching plan and lays out practical measures to address global security challenges. In this February, China officially released the GSI Concept Paper (The Paper). The Paper expounds the core ideas and principles of the GSI, identifies the priorities, platforms and mechanisms of cooperation, and demonstrates China’s sense of responsibility for safeguarding world peace and firm resolve to defend global security. It also lays out 20 priorities of cooperation in response to the most significant and pressing international security concerns at present such as upholding the UN’s central role, facilitating political settlement of hotspot issues, tackling traditional and non-traditional security challenges and strengthening the system and capacity for global security governance. 

Guided by the core ideas and principles of the GSI, China has made unremitting efforts for the political settlement of international and regional hotspot issues and achieved a series of positive progress and outcomes. China successfully promoted the reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, brought more certainty to world peace and set a good example of how countries in the region can resolve disputes and differences and achieve good neighborliness and friendship through dialogue and consultation; China held the first meeting of the China-Pakistan-Iran trilateral consultation on counter-terrorism and security, to build a cooperation platform for regional security; As a member of nearly all universal inter-governmental organizations, China has been deeply involved in international cooperation in areas such as counter-terrorism, digital governance, biosecurity, and climate change;  China issued “China’s Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis” and “China’s Position on the Afghan Issue”, and stood firm on the side of peace, provided a realistic path for solving security challenges. By now, China has sent more than 50,000 peacekeepers all over the world, which makes China the largest troop contributor to peacekeeping operations among the five permanent members of the Security Council.

Security cooperation with Africa is one of the key cooperation specified in the Paper, China has taken the security concerns of African countries fully into account in formulating the document. The paper makes clear the following aspects: Support the efforts of African countries, the AU and sub-regional organizations to resolve regional conflicts, fight terrorism and safeguard maritime security, call on the international community to provide financial and technical support to Africa-led counter-terrorism operations, and support African countries in strengthening their ability to safeguard peace independently. Support addressing African problems in the African way, and promote peaceful settlement of hotspots issues in the Horn of Africa, the Sahel, the Great Lakes region and other areas. It advocates the lasting peace and development of African countries, promotes peace and stability on the continent, and supports Africa in speaking with one voice on international affairs and continuously elevating its international standing. 

China and Malawi are both peace-loving countries committed to development. As a true friend, brother and partner, China attaches great importance to peace and security cooperation with Malawi. China has donated batches of police equipment, vehicles and other supplies, assisted in building a fingerprint laboratory, to help Malawi in strengthening capacity building. China has also effectively helped Malawi respond to non-traditional security crises such as the COVID-19, cholera, tropical cyclone disasters, and food shortages through material donations, dispatching medical teams and agricultural technical cooperation teams, etc.

On August 24, President Xi Jinping met with H.E. Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera on the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg. The two leaders reached important consensus on promoting bilateral cooperation to achieve new results and promoting China-Malawi relations to achieve new development. The GSI is an important international public good China offers to the world. China stands ready to work with Malawi to jointly implement the GSI and take this opportunity to deepen peace and security cooperation between the two countries, address traditional and non-traditional security challenges and create a brighter future.