At the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Tianjin Summit 2025, which marked the 25th Heads of State Council meeting of the SCO, member countries focused on strengthening their security cooperation, a development that has steadily progressed over the past 25 years but has largely gone unnoticed in the Western world.
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The discussions also focused on increasing economic and development cooperation to support the world's transition from the collapsing US-led unipolar system to a dynamic multipolar order that better serves the needs of all nations—not just the interests of a select few. This shift aligns with the rapid growth of the BRICS organization, which, beyond its Asian members and partners, now includes an increasing number of countries in Africa and South America.
To prevent this historic political and economic transition from descending into chaos or nuclear war, there is an urgent need for open and inclusive discussions about the guiding principles of the emerging new world order. In 2022, Helga Zepp-LaRouche, founder of the Schiller Institute and a longtime advocate for peace and a New Just World Economic Order, presented the "Ten Principles for a New International Security and Development Architecture." These principles aim to spark an international dialogue among scholars and governments. Aligned with this vision, the Schiller Institute regards Chinese President Xi Jinping's highlighted five principles of the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) at the SCO summit in Tianjin as a highly significant development.
The first principle emphasizes sovereign equality, a fundamental value underlying the United Nations' founding.
With China now the world's most considerable economic power in terms of Purchasing Power Parity and a formidable global force, many view it as a potential challenger to the US’ long-standing unipolar dominance since the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991. However, China's firm commitment to sovereign equality means it rejects any claim to global hegemony.
Instead, China supports a world order where even a small nation, such as Denmark—with just six million people and smaller than many Chinese cities—is afforded the same sovereign rights as a civilizational nation, like China, despite the differences in population, economic strength or historical contributions.
The second principle insists that no nation, regardless of its power, can place itself above the law or deny other nations their rights. Just as we in Denmark pride ourselves on equality before the law, this principle should apply to international relations as well. Since the end of the Cold War and the rise of the so-called "Unipolar Moment," the US has often acted as an "indispensable power" above all others, leading to arrogance and self-enrichment by Western elites at the expense of others.
China's remarkable economic progress over the past fifty years, which has lifted over 850 million people out of abject poverty, restoring China as a proud, powerful and capable nation, alongside Russia's political and economic strengthening, and the often-overlooked progress in many Global South nations, contrasts sharply with stagnation or regression in the US and its Western allies. This reality has exposed the unipolar worldview as untenable, demanding a shift toward a multipolar world order where no nation stands above the law.
China's third GGI principle reaffirms its disinterest in seeking world hegemony. From China's perspective, this is a wise approach to take, as history has shown that imperial hegemony ultimately harms both the dominant nation and those it controls. The US' hegemonic role over the past 40 years has contributed to a rapid decline in its own economic, legal and moral order, leaving many Americans worse off than in previous decades. Multilateralism acts as a safeguard against any future attempts at global domination. It also allows the world's diverse cultures and traditions to coexist and collaborate peacefully.
The fourth principle is especially reassuring from a Danish perspective, reflecting our cultural tradition that the interests of the system must never outweigh those of the people. The "mandate of heaven" demands that those in power act to promote the well-being of current and future generations. Prioritizing people over financial interests means making long-term investments to secure a better, happier future. This principle also suggests that fostering worldwide people-to-people dialogue is critical for peace and prosperity. Understanding others reduces fear and builds acceptance and appreciation.
The final principle reflects pragmatic leadership. President Xi, having overseen profound changes in China, emphasizes that lofty words at international conferences mean little without practical outcomes. While realities may shift, success depends on careful follow-up and incremental resource allocation, allowing projects to adapt and improve over time.
The US and its Western allies face increasing political and financial crises, consequences of flawed policies over the past four decades. Recent events include the fall of the French government, the fragile state of the British government, and Germany's deep economic depression. Questions loom about the future of these once-proud European nations. Similarly, the US is threatened by growing division and mounting debt, mirroring the struggles of many European countries.
Solutions lie in returning to principles of sovereignty and cooperation—not only among Western nations but in genuine collaboration with the rest of the world. This vision aligns with the multipolar world order outlined by the five principles of the GGI.
Let all nations engage in this dialogue exemplified by the GGI so that humanity may find a shared path toward peaceful coexistence and collective development.
Tom Gillesberg is President of the Schiller Institute in Denmark. He has been an independent candidate for Parliament and municipal offices for over two decades.