I.P.O. Information Service

Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, 24 November 2018
RE/27083c-is

"Global governance means the collective effort of sovereign states to co-ordinate international policies in the age of globalization, to ensure peace and prosperity for all. Global governance does not mean 'world government' in the sense of a supranational authority putting itself above sovereign states."

In his speech at the Global Think Tanks Forum 2018 in the City of Chengdu, China, the President of the Vienna-based International Progress Organization (I.P.O.), Dr. Hans Köchler, explained that global governance is a coordination of policies among states as equals – on the basis of mutual respect for sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs. As such, it is subordinated to the public good of mankind and is not compatible with a unilateral, arbitrary assertion of national interests. At a special session devoted to China's reform policies and opening up as impetus to global governance, the President of the I.P.O. further stated that the United Nations Organization, upon its establishment in 1945, was meant to be a vehicle for collective action to maintain peace and further socio-economic development of all member states. In order to preserve its role under the changing geopolitical circumstances, the organization must be adapted to the emerging multipolar balance of power. In particular, it must also include global regions such as Africa, Latin America, South and South-East Asia in the decision-making processes. Unilateral uses of force or economic coercion by individual member states are not compatible with the United Nations' spirit of multilateral action and contradict the international rule of law, which is the very foundation of the organization's legitimacy, Dr. Köchler explained.

In his keynote speech inaugurating the conference, Mr. Guo Weimin, Vice Minister of the State Council Information Office of China, encouraged think tanks to enhance their research capacity, increase their international cooperation and facilitate people-to-people exchange among different countries. Other speakers included Mr. Xie Ruiwu, Member of the Standing Committee of the Chengdu Municipal Committee of the CPC and Executive Vice Mayor of Chengdu Municipality; Prof. Eiichi Shindo, Director-General, The Belt & Road Initiative Japan Research Center (Tokyo); Prof. Dmitry Baryshnikov, Vice-Dean, School of International Relations, Saint Petersburg State University (Russia); Prof. Swaran Singh Jaswal, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi (India); Mr. John Ross, former Director of Economic and Business Policy of London (UK); and Prof. Bruce Pickering, University of California at Berkeley, Senior Advisor, Asia Society (USA).

Hosted by China International Publishing Group and Chengdu Municipal People's Government, the Global Think Tanks Forum 2018 was organized by the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies (Beijing). Three parallel sessions dealt with (1) China's Belt and Road Initiative, (2) global cooperation of think tanks, and (3) China's reform and opening up as impetus to global governance. More than 120 delegates from 16 countries, including Argentina, Austria, Brazil, China, India, Japan, Pakistan, Nigeria, Russia, and the United States attended the meeting. Upon conclusion of the Forum, the participants adopted the "Chengdu Consensus" which emphasizes the spirit of "unity in diversity," stresses the growing demand for innovation in global governance, and calls upon think tanks to undertake more research on issues of culture and religion.

Summary of speech of President of I.P.O. 

END/International Progress Organization/News Release/Global Governance and United Nations Reform/2018-11-24/P/RE/27083c-is