TEHRAN – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has emphasized the importance of building on the political and economic opportunities arising from President Masoud Pezeshkian’s recent trip to China, which happens to resonate with the five principles outlined in China’s Global Governance Initiative (GGI).

“His recent trip to China was an excellent one and potentially lays the groundwork—I do not say fully realized—for the major developments our country needs, both economically and politically. Fortunately, he has created such a foundation through this trip, which has already produced achievements and should be followed up,” Ayatollah Khamenei said in a meeting with President Pezeshkian and his cabinet ministers in Tehran on Sunday.

Pezeshkian traveled to China on August 31 for a four-day official visit to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025 and a major military parade in Beijing marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. While there, he also held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. During their talks, Xi emphasized the GGI, expressing the willingness to work with Iran and the international community to promote a fairer and more equitable global governance system and jointly build a community with a shared future for humankind. Pezeshkian voiced full support for China’s GGI.

The two presidents also underscored the advancement of the landmark long-term deal between Iran and China, known as the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement, highlighting their commitment to deepening bilateral relations.

After returning to Iran, President Pezeshkian described his trip as an opportunity to engage with SCO leaders. He highlighted discussions on multilateral cooperation, opposing unilateralism, and promoting global governance based on justice and respect for all countries’ sovereignty, laying the groundwork for broader technical, economic, and cultural cooperation.

Xi unveils GGI for global unity

President Xi Jinping chairs the "Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus" Meeting and delivers a speech titled "Pooling the Strength of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to Improve Global Governance" in Tianjin, North China, Sept 1, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

President Xi proposed the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus Meeting in Tianjin on September 1, aiming to address new global challenges and uncertainties, uphold the principles of peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, and work with all countries toward a more just, equitable global governance system and a shared future for humanity.

During his speech, Xi emphasized five principles of the GGI: adhering to sovereign equality, abiding by international rule of law, practicing multilateralism, advocating a people-centered approach, and focusing on taking real actions.

This initiative is in line with capitalizing on the political and economic opportunities from Pezeshkian’s visit to China.

Advancing Iran-China ties through GGI

Sovereign equality: Ayatollah Khamenei’s emphasis on pursuing Iran-China cooperation reflects the principle of sovereign equality, highlighting mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs. President Pezeshkian’s trip reinforced this equal-footed partnership, demonstrating Iran’s dignity and independent decision-making in international relations.

International rule of law: Strengthening Iran-China ties, as emphasized by both Ayatollah Khamenei and Pezeshkian, aligns with adherence to international laws and norms. Their interactions underscored the importance of stability and predictability in bilateral relations and global engagement, including legal frameworks in trade, diplomacy, and security.

Practicing multilateralism: Ayatollah Khamenei’s call for multilateral cooperation finds practical expression through Iran’s growing engagement in platforms like the SCO. Pezeshkian’s meetings with other SCO leaders illustrate Iran’s commitment to collective problem-solving and regional integration alongside China and other partners.

People-centered approach: Both Iran’s Leader and President Pezeshkian have time and again emphasized that development should benefit the people. This includes joint Iran-China efforts in economic cooperation, infrastructure development such as energy, transportation, industrial projects, and social programs. This is aimed at improving healthcare, education, and overall living standards, ensuring that bilateral initiatives produce tangible benefits for citizens.

Taking real actions: The emphasis on capitalizing on Iran’s political and economic opportunities with China reflects the GGI’s focus on practical outcomes. Ayatollah Khamenei and Pezeshkian stressed implementing concrete initiatives to deepen trade, investment, and diplomatic collaboration, translating discussions into measurable results.

The Global Governance Initiative marks the fourth major global initiative proposed by President Xi in recent years, following the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI), and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI). While the GDI focused on economic development, the GSI on international security, and the GCI on cultural cooperation, the GGI aims to reform and improve global governance systems, promote justice and fairness, and guide multilateral cooperation for a shared future for humanity.