On August 29, 2026, China Global Television Network (CGTN) held an international roundtable dedicated to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and issues of reforming the global governance system.
At the center of the discussion was the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) proposed by China, as well as the role of the SCO in advancing multilateral cooperation, strengthening interaction among Global South countries, and seeking more effective approaches to addressing contemporary international challenges.
The discussion was attended by experts and diplomats from Kazakhstan, China, India, Pakistan, Russia, and Belarus:
– Sudheendra Kulkarni, founder of Forum for a New South Asia, former aide to Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee;
– Masood Khan, diplomat, former Ambassador of Pakistan to China;
– Alexander Bobrov, Russian foreign policy expert;
– Alexey Avdonin, Chairman of the Board of the Belarusian Society “Knowledge”;
– Shi Jing, Associate Professor at the Institute of International and Regional Studies, Tsinghua University;
– Wang Xinsong, Associate Professor at Beijing Normal University;
– Gulnar Shaimergenova, Director of the China Studies Center, Kazakhstan.
One of the main topics of the conversation was the changing international environment amid intensifying geopolitical competition, growing economic and technological constraints, and the continuing need for more effective mechanisms of multilateral interaction.
The experts examined the principle of sovereign equality of states and its practical significance for small and medium-sized countries. Special attention was paid to how states that differ significantly in economic potential and international influence can ensure equal participation in the development of joint decisions.
In this context, the experience of the SCO was discussed, where decisions are made by consensus. The participants considered the possibilities of using the principles of equality, consultation, and consideration of the interests of all member states to develop a more inclusive system of international cooperation.
Another focus of the discussion was the growing role of Global South countries in shaping the international agenda. The participants noted the increasing desire of developing states not only to take part in the work of international institutions, but also to play a more active role in shaping rules and decisions in such areas as trade, transport, the digital economy, artificial intelligence, energy, and sustainable development.
Special attention was given to Central Asia. The discussion addressed the region’s countries’ interest in preserving autonomy in foreign policy choices, developing cooperation with various international partners, and strengthening their own role in regional and global processes.
The roundtable also examined the practical side of global governance. Using the Belt and Road Initiative as an example, the participants argued that international cooperation and infrastructure connectivity should be assessed not only by the scale of implemented projects, but also by their concrete impact on economic development, employment, the activities of small and medium-sized businesses, access to markets, technological development, and improvements in people’s quality of life.
Another topic was the SCO’s further role in global governance. Against the backdrop of the Organization’s expanding agenda, the discussion addressed the need to combine the preservation of consensus and equality principles with greater practical effectiveness of cooperation in the areas of economy, transport connectivity, technology, and security.
The roundtable was organized by CGTN ahead of the SCO summit and became a platform for exchanging views among representatives of different countries on how the Organization can contribute to the development of multilateralism, broader representation of Global South countries, and the improvement of existing global governance mechanisms.
The full recording of the roundtable is available on CGTN’s official platforms:
[CGTN]: https://www.cgtn.com/tv/replay?id=DDCBbEA
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