Contributing Chinese Wisdom and Solutions to UN Reform

After 80 years of development, the United Nations has become the core of multilateralism and global governance. However, faced with the accelerated evolution of world multipolarity and the complexity and severity of global challenges, the UN urgently needs to deepen reform to enhance its representativeness and operational effectiveness, so as to better fulfill its global mission. As the world’s largest developing country and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China continuously contributes wisdom and solutions to UN reform, demonstrating the diplomatic style of a responsible major country. In September 2025, President Xi Jinping solemnly put forward the Global Governance Initiative at the “Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus” meeting, providing another important public good for the international community and injecting new impetus into the reform of the UN and the global governance system.

经过80年的发展，联合国成为推行多边主义和全球治理的核心。然而，面对世界多极化加速演进、全球性挑战复杂严峻等问题，联合国亟须深化改革，提升代表性和行动效力，以更好地履行其全球使命。中国作为世界上最大的发展中国家和联合国安理会常任理事国，不断为联合国改革贡献智慧和方案，彰显了负责任大国的外交风范。2025年9月，习近平主席在“上海合作组织+”会议上郑重提出全球治理倡议，为国际社会提供了又一个重要的公共产品，必将为联合国及全球治理体系改革注入新的动力。

Reform Stance Demonstrates the Style of a Responsible Major Country

改革立场彰显负责任大国风范

The world today faces multiple crises, placing higher demands on the functioning of the UN. The core of UN reform is to promote multilateralism and enhance the UN’s effectiveness in global governance affairs. China’s stance on UN reform demonstrates the style of a responsible major country.

当今世界面临多重危机，对联合国的运作提出了更高的要求。联合国改革的核心是促进多边主义，提升联合国在全球治理事务中的效用。中国的联合国改革立场彰显了负责任大国的风范。

First, adhering to the bottom-line thinking of upholding the UN’s core status and safeguarding the “ballast stone” of global governance. The UN is an important achievement of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War, the most universal, representative, and authoritative international organization in the world today, and carries the common expectations of global peace and development. China has always firmly upheld the UN’s core status in the global governance system, emphasizing that reform must serve to enhance the UN’s capacity to respond to crises and promote development, and opposing any unilateralism or “small circle” behavior that undermines the UN’s authority or bypasses UN mechanisms.

一是坚守联合国核心地位的底线思维，维护全球治理的“压舱石”。联合国是世界反法西斯战争胜利的重要成果，是当今世界最具普遍性、代表性和权威性的国际组织，承载着全球和平与发展的共同期待。中国始终坚定维护联合国在全球治理体系中的核心地位，强调改革必须服务于增强联合国应对危机、促进发展的能力，反对任何削弱联合国权威、绕开联合国机制的单边主义或“小圈子”行为。

Second, upholding the global governance concept of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, and firmly safeguarding national sovereignty. China resolutely opposes the practice of a few major powers dominating the UN reform agenda and imposing their own will on others, and has always advocated that the reform process should be jointly participated in by all countries and that the fruits of reform should be shared by all countries. China has repeatedly emphasized that there is no “unified template” for UN reform, nor can it be “set in tone” by individual countries; it should proceed through democratic consultation, reach broad consensus, and take into account the interests and concerns of all parties.

二是秉持共商共建共享的全球治理观，坚定维护国家主权。中国坚决反对少数大国主导联合国改革议程、将自身意志强加于人的做法，始终倡导改革进程由各国共同参与，改革成果由各国共同分享。中国多次强调，联合国改革没有“统一模板”，更不能由个别国家“定调”，应通过民主协商、达成广泛共识，兼顾各方利益和关切。

Third, safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries and practicing the value orientation of fairness and justice. As the world’s largest developing country, China has always taken safeguarding the collective interests of developing countries as an important starting point for UN reform, promoting reform that balances the two major issues of “security” and “development.” For a long time, the UN agenda has been dominated by the West, focusing more on issues such as geopolitical security and human rights, while development issues of greatest concern to developing countries—such as poverty reduction, infrastructure construction, debt relief, and technology transfer—have been marginalized. China has clearly stated that UN reform must “strengthen the development pillar” and incorporate the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development into the focus of reform.

三是维护发展中国家正当权益，践行公平正义的价值取向。作为世界上最大的发展中国家，中国始终将维护发展中国家集体利益作为联合国改革的重要出发点，推动改革兼顾“安全”与“发展”两大议题。长期以来，联合国议程受西方主导，更多聚焦地缘安全、人权等议题，而发展中国家最关心的减贫、基础设施建设、债务减免、技术转让等发展议题却被边缘化。中国明确提出，联合国改革必须“强化发展支柱”，将联合国2030年可持续发展议程的落实纳入改革重点。

Fourth, adhering to a gradual, pragmatic, and steady reform path to avoid the risk of “radical and impetuous” approaches. UN reform involves adjustments to power structures and the reshaping of interest patterns. Drawing wisdom from China’s excellent traditional culture and combining it with the needs of modern global governance, China advocates that reform should be advanced step by step, starting with the easier tasks before tackling the more difficult ones, and giving priority to resolving issues with high consensus and strong operability, rather than pursuing radical plans that seek “one-step success.” China’s reform proposals are a concrete practice of promoting steady governance and reflect the strategic composure of major-country diplomacy.

四是坚持循序渐进、务实稳妥的改革路径，避免“激进冒进”风险。联合国改革涉及权力结构调整、利益格局重塑。中国从中华优秀传统文化中汲取智慧，结合现代全球治理需求，主张改革应分步推进、先易后难，优先解决共识度高、操作性强的问题，而非追求“一步到位”的激进方案。中国的改革主张是推进稳健治理的具体实践，体现了大国外交的战略定力。

Correctly Handling Four Pairs of Relationships in the Reform Process

正确处理改革进程中的四对关系

China’s concepts and wisdom on UN reform are concentrated in its handling of four pairs of relationships.

中国在联合国改革问题上的理念和智慧，集中体现在对四对关系的处理上。

First, the relationship between reform and maintenance. Reform is the “power source” for activating multilateralism, aimed at better practicing multilateralism and upholding the UN’s core status, not at starting something new; the global governance system with the UN at its core is the pillar of international societal development and the cornerstone for enhancing human well-being, and must be maintained. At the same time, maintenance by no means implies sticking to old ways; in the face of changes in the international situation and internal and external needs, the UN needs to accelerate institutional reform and innovation in areas such as power structures, working mechanisms, and cooperation networks.

一是改革与维护的关系。改革是激活多边主义的“动力源”，是为了更好地践行多边主义和维护联合国的核心地位，而不是另起炉灶；以联合国为核心的全球治理体系是国际社会发展的支柱，是增进人类福祉的基石，必须加以维护。同时，维护绝不意味着墨守成规，面对国际形势和内外部需求的变化，联合国需要在权力结构、工作机制及合作网络等方面加快体制机制的改革和创新。

Second, the relationship between vision and reality. The UN is both an achievement of humanity’s pursuit of world peace, fairness, and justice, and a product of interstate games and the international landscape; its operation depends on the will and choices of member states. Therefore, UN reform should reflect the historical trends of world multipolarity and the democratization of international relations, while fully considering the complexity of interest relations among states, promoting incremental reform within the existing institutional framework, upholding the UN’s authority, and enhancing its capacity to fulfill its duties.

二是愿景与现实的关系。联合国既是人类追求世界和平与公平正义的成果，也是国家间博弈和国际格局的产物，其运作依赖于成员国的意愿与选择。因此，联合国改革应体现世界多极化、国际关系民主化的历史潮流，同时充分考虑国家间利益关系的复杂性，在现有制度框架下推动渐进式改革，维护联合国权威，提升其履职尽责的能力。

Third, the relationship between the South and the North. The collective rise of the “Global South” has changed the international power structure and deepened world multipolarity. However, developing countries have long been on the margins of the global governance system, affecting international fairness and justice and the effectiveness of UN operations. UN reform should focus on resolving the imbalance in the representation and voice of developing countries in international affairs. At the same time, reform is a common responsibility of the international community, and should promote full dialogue and consultation between Southern and Northern countries, jointly advancing the establishment of institutional mechanisms conducive to achieving common security and balanced development.

三是南方与北方的关系。“全球南方”群体性崛起改变了国际权力结构，推动世界多极化不断深化。然而，发展中国家长期处于全球治理体系边缘，影响了国际公平正义和联合国行动效力。联合国改革应着力解决发展中国家在国际事务中代表性和发言权失衡的问题。同时，改革是国际社会的共同责任，应促进南方国家和北方国家的充分对话协商，共同推动建立有利于实现共同安全和均衡发展的体制机制。

Fourth, the relationship between system and step-by-step approach. The UN’s predicament is a concentrated manifestation of the worsening global governance deficit. Reform requires adhering to systematic thinking and advancing it in a coordinated manner within the overall reform framework of the global governance system. The UN needs to strengthen system-wide coordination to ensure that measures in various fields support each other, and through full democratic consultation, seek a “package” solution that takes into account the interests and concerns of all parties. At the same time, UN reform should prioritize advancing reform items with broad consensus to clear institutional obstacles that have long constrained the UN’s development, achieving a combination of systematic reform and step-by-step implementation.

四是系统与分步的关系。联合国的困境是全球治理赤字不断加剧的集中体现。改革需要坚持系统思维，在全球治理体系总体改革框架下统筹推进。联合国需要加强全系统协调，确保各领域举措相互支撑，通过充分民主协商，寻求兼顾各方利益和关切的“一揽子”解决方案。同时，联合国改革应优先推进具有广泛共识的改革事项，以扫清长期制约联合国发展的制度性障碍，做到系统改革与分步实施相结合。

Leading UN Reform with Chinese Wisdom and Solutions

以中国智慧与方案引领联合国改革

China’s positions and proposals in the reform areas of the UN Security Council, the development system, and the management system fully reflect its high regard for the UN cause, its strong support for the reasonable demands of developing countries, and its high sense of responsibility for the future and destiny of humanity.

中国在联合国安理会、发展系统和管理体制等改革领域的立场和方案，充分体现了对联合国事业的高度重视、对发展中国家合理诉求的高度支持以及对人类前途命运的高度负责。

First, Security Council reform concerns the fundamental interests of member states and the adjustment of the global governance system, and is highly complex and sensitive. China accurately grasps the direction and path of Security Council reform, pointing out that the most fundamental problems of the Security Council lie in its unfair composition, insufficient representativeness, unreasonable structure, and the long-term dominance of Security Council affairs by a single camp, emphasizing that the representation and voice of developing countries should be effectively increased. At the same time, China clearly defines the reform path, advocating that Security Council reform be advanced in a coordinated manner within the overall reform framework of the UN and the global governance system, upholding the main channel status of intergovernmental negotiations, so as to form a reform plan that gathers broad consensus.

首先，安理会改革事关成员国根本利益和全球治理体系调整，具有高度复杂性和敏感性。中国准确把握安理会改革的方向和路径，指出安理会最根本的问题在于组成不公、代表性不足、结构不合理、单一阵营长期主导安理会事务，强调应切实增加发展中国家代表性和发言权。同时，中国明确改革路径，主张将安理会改革放在联合国和全球治理体系总体改革框架下统筹推进，坚持政府间谈判的主渠道地位，以形成凝聚广泛共识的改革方案。

Second, development is the foundation for solving all problems. China advocates development as a priority and promotes the incorporation of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals into the focus of UN reform. China actively participates in the reform of the UN development system and cooperates closely with relevant agencies to jointly promote the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. In the face of unilateralism and nationalist trends, China has proposed the Global Development Initiative, aligning

其次，发展是解决一切问题的基础，中国倡导发展优先，推动将可持续发展目标的落实纳入联合国改革的重点。中国积极参与联合国发展系统改革，与相关机构密切合作共同推动实现可持续发展目标。面对单边主义和民族主义思潮，中国提出全球发展倡议，对接和赋能可持续发展议程，通过“全球发展和南南合作基金”“中国—联合国和平与发展基金”等，以实际行动支持联合国发展事业和发展系统改革。

Third, in March 2025, UN Secretary-General António Guterres proposed the "UN80 Initiative," [1]1 The "UN80 Initiative" is a reform proposal announced by UN Secretary-General António Guterres in March 2025, intended to comprehensively overhaul the United Nations system to improve its operational effectiveness as the organization approaches its 80th anniversary. aiming to reform the entire UN system to enhance its effectiveness. China supports enhancing the UN's capacity to fulfill its mission and responsibilities through reform, enabling it to more forcefully promote multilateral cooperation and address global challenges. China calls for UN reform to better reflect the diversity of the world, advocates for more balanced regional representation among UN staff, and for more rational institutional structures and regional distribution.

再次，2025年3月，联合国秘书长古特雷斯提出“联合国80周年倡议”，旨在对联合国全系统进行改革，以提升工作实效。中国支持通过改革提升联合国履行使命职责的能力，使其更有力地推动多边合作和应对全球性挑战。中国呼吁联合国改革应更好地反映世界多样性，主张联合国职员的地区代表性更加平衡，机构的设置和地区分布更加合理。

Finally, China supports the cause of UN reform with concrete actions. In 2025, China’s contribution rate to the UN regular budget exceeded 20%, and its contribution rate to the peacekeeping budget exceeded 23%, making it the largest contributor of peacekeeping personnel among the permanent members of the Security Council. China’s contributions provide solid financial guarantees for the normal operation of UN institutions and the implementation of various tasks, fully reflecting China’s high regard and firm support for the UN cause as a responsible major country.

最后，以实际行动支持联合国改革事业。2025年，中国对联合国常规预算贡献率超过20%，对维和预算的贡献率超过23%，是安理会常任理事国中派出维和人员最多的国家。中国的贡献为联合国机构的正常运转和各项工作的开展提供了坚实的资金保障，充分体现了中国作为负责任大国对联合国事业的高度重视和坚定支持。

(The author is Deputy Director and Research Fellow at the Institute of Global Governance Studies, Shanghai Institutes for International Studies)

（作者系上海国际问题研究院全球治理研究所副所长、研究员）

Online Editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧