Venezuela, Cuba Express Support for China's Global Governance Initiative

Caracas (OrinocoTribune.com)—Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced Monday that Venezuela will join China’s Global Governance Initiative (GGI). The statement was issued shortly after China’s President, Xi Jinping, proposed the framework during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin.

At a press conference with international media where he denounced recent US military threats, Maduro said Venezuela would formally sign the initiative. “I will sign the official document of adhesion to the new global governance that dozens of countries around the world are signing, and Venezuela is joining President Xi Jinping’s initiative,” he said.

Cuba also signaled its support for the initiative. Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez welcomed the proposal on social media, emphasizing that the Cuban government appreciated how the proposal “supports the democratization of international relations.” Rodríguez noted the “merit of this endeavor,” explaining that it “promotes the democratization of international relations and constitutes the common aspiration of the Global South.”

President Xi introduced the GGI while chairing the SCO Plus Summit in Tianjin, where the organization held the largest summit in its 24-year history. The gathering brought together leaders from more than 20 countries and heads of 10 international organizations, including Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The initiative marks the fourth major global proposal from Xi in recent years, following the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative.

President Xi outlined five core principles for the GGI: adhering to sovereign equality, abiding by international rule of law, practicing multilateralism, advocating a people-centered approach, and focusing on carrying out concrete actions.

“While the historical trends of peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit remain unchanged, the Cold War mentality, hegemonism, and protectionism continue to haunt the world,” Xi stated, adding that new threats and challenges have been increasing and “the world has found itself in a new period of turbulence and transformation.”

“Global governance has come to a new crossroads,” he stated.

President Maduro praised the initiative as seeking “peace, development, a shared future, and global harmony,” while highlighting the importance of a global order without “threats, blackmail, or supremacy.”

In an official statement, Venezuela’s government emphasized that the GGI aligns with Chinese proposals focused on building a community of shared destiny. “Venezuela reaffirms its support for the principles that inspire this proposal, such as the sovereign equality of states, respect for international law, the genuine practice of multilateralism, and a focus on the well-being of the people,” the statement reads.

Caracas also highlighted the initiative’s potential positive impact on Latin America and the Caribbean, noting it could strengthen the region as a Zone of Peace. The Venezuelan government reiterated its rejection of unilateral coercive measures and interventionism while advocating for a just, united, and peaceful world order.

While launching the initiative, Xi emphasized that China will work with other nations to advance toward an equitable global system and a community with a shared future.

China to Washington: ‘Latin America and Caribbean are Not Anyone’s Backyard’

This is the unofficial translation of the Venezuelan statement:

Venezuela, on behalf of the Venezuelan people and government, welcomes and supports the proposal from the People’s Republic of China on the Global Governance Initiative, presented by President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit held in Tianjin on September 1.

In an official statement, the national government emphasized that this new international project is linked to the three initiatives previously proposed by China: Global Development, Global Civilization, and Global Security, which aim to build a Community of Shared Destiny for Humanity, fully aligned with Bolivarian Peace Diplomacy and the vision of universal balance.

Therefore, Venezuela reaffirms its support for the principles that inspire this proposal, such as the sovereign equality of states, respect for international law, the genuine practice of multilateralism, and a focus on the well-being of the people.

This initiative is important for the region; it seeks to strengthen the Zone of Peace in Latin America and the Caribbean, proclaimed in 2014, as a fundamental space for consolidating stability, cooperation, and regional integration. Venezuela once again reaffirms its rejection of all forms of interventionism and unilateral coercive measures and reiterates its commitment to equity, international justice, and the construction of a more just, supportive, and peaceful world order.

Special for Orinoco Tribune by staff

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