By Gerald Mbanda
In recent years, China’s growing role on the global stage has generated widespread confidence that it can help shape a new global order. This confidence is evident both domestically and internationally. Surveys consistently show that around 90 percent of Chinese citizens believe their country has the capability and responsibility to contribute to a new global order. Beyond China’s borders, many countries—particularly in Africa and the wider Global South—express strong support for China’s approach to international cooperation, development, and global governance.
One major source of this confidence lies in China’s engagement with Africa, especially through the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). Since its establishment in 2000, FOCAC has become a key platform for dialogue and partnership between China and African countries. African leaders frequently praise cooperation with China for being pragmatic, development-focused, and respectful of national sovereignty. Through FOCAC, China has supported infrastructure development, industrialization, agriculture, healthcare, and education across the continent. Railways, ports, highways, power stations, and industrial parks built with Chinese cooperation have improved connectivity and economic capacity in many African countries. For many African nations, China is viewed not as a distant power imposing conditions, but as a partner focused on mutual benefit and long-term development.
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) further reinforces global confidence in China’s leadership. Launched in 2013, the BRI aims to enhance connectivity through infrastructure, trade, financial integration, and people-to-people exchanges. Countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and parts of Europe have joined the initiative, attracted by its promise of shared benefits and inclusive growth. For many developing countries, the BRI addresses a long-standing infrastructure gap that has limited economic progress. Ports, roads, railways, energy projects, and digital infrastructure supported under the BRI have helped boost trade, create jobs, and improve regional integration. While challenges exist, many countries in the Global South see the BRI as a practical alternative to traditional development models that often came with strict political or economic conditions.
Another important reason for global confidence in China is the country’s Four Global Initiatives: the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI), the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), and the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind. Together, these initiatives reflect China’s vision for a more balanced, cooperative, and inclusive international system.
The Global Development Initiative emphasizes poverty reduction, food security, climate action, and sustainable development—issues that matter deeply to developing countries. The Global Security Initiative promotes common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, calling for dialogue rather than confrontation. The Global Civilization Initiative highlights respect for cultural diversity and rejects the idea that one civilization or model should dominate others.
For many countries in the Global South, these initiatives resonate strongly because they align with their own development priorities and historical experiences. They offer an alternative narrative to a global order dominated by power politics, unilateralism, and zero-sum competition. China’s emphasis on multilateralism, respect for sovereignty, and win-win cooperation appeals to states seeking greater voice and fairness in global governance.
The confidence placed in China to help shape a new global order is rooted in both tangible outcomes and broader principles. Through mechanisms like FOCAC and the Belt and Road Initiative, China has delivered visible development benefits. Through its global initiatives, it has articulated a vision of international relations based on cooperation, inclusiveness, and shared prosperity. As the world undergoes profound changes, many countries—especially in the Global South—see China not only as an economic powerhouse, but as a key partner and potential leader in building a more equitable and multipolar global order.
