On September 1, 2025, at the SCO Plus Meeting in Tianjin, Chinese President Xi Jinping rolled out the Global Governance Initiative (GGI), built on five core concepts: sovereign equality, the international rule of law, multilateralism, a people-centered approach, and real actions.
One of these pillars, sovereign equality, was unpacked by Zain Al-Abidin, a young activist from Damascus. He believes equality is the bedrock of lasting peace.
Zain explains, "It also gives every country, when it feels equal to another, the assurance that it is not weaker than any other country, and that no other state can occupy it."
For young South and Southeast Asian readers, think of sovereign equality like two cricket teams on the same pitch: same rules, same chance to shine 🙌. When nations stand on equal footing, dialogue thrives over dominance.
Stay tuned as we explore more GGI pillars—next up: the international rule of law and multilateralism! ✌️
Reference(s):
Youth Perspective: 'Sovereign equality' in the eyes of Syrian youth
cgtn.com
