A China-led Group of Friends of Global Governance, which is aimed at promoting a more just and equitable management worldwide, held its inaugural meeting at UN Headquarters in New York on Wednesday, with Pakistan saying that the move was “much-needed” amid growing challenges.

Representatives from nearly 40 founding member states of the group attended the launch meeting, which was chaired by Ambassador Fu Cong, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations.

He told the meeting that the Group will serve as an open, inclusive platform to mobilise collective efforts for better global governance.

Congratulating Ambassador FU on the launch of the Group, Pakistan UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said, “This was much needed because it comes at a time when the world is confronted with unprecedented and multifaceted challenges, including eroding faith in multilateral diplomacy, protracted conflicts, disrupted global supply chains, rising debt distress, deepening inequalities, and the intensifying impacts of climate change.”

The Pakistani envoy said that Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Global Governance Initiative “manifests visionary leadership, and a blueprint, drawing upon best governance practices, and modernisation, to effectively respond to interlocking crises”.

Pakistan, he said, fully supports this Initiative, citing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as describing it as a historic step toward strengthening the multilateral system to better address the contemporary challenges of peace and development facing humanity.

The Initiative is anchored in five core principles – sovereign equality, international rule of law, multilateralism, people-centred approach, and real results.

The Pakistani envoy said it aligns closely with Pakistan’s strategic priorities, particularly its shared commitment to fostering a harmonious and fairer world order that advances the interests of developing nations, and advances peaceful resolution of disputes, self-determination of peoples under foreign occupation, and win-win outcomes for all.

“We should collectively advance reform that shuns privilege and divisive proposals, and corresponds to the interests of all,” he told delegates.

Pakistan, he added, commends China’s steadfast commitment to international cooperation and its efforts to reinvigorate multilateral diplomacy.