China’s Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) in Focus

Summary

China’s Global Civilisation Initiative seeks to challenge the West’s narrative of civilizational uniqueness and project the Chinese model of modernisation as an alternative to the Western model. However, since its inception in March 2023, only a few countries have joined the initiative, suggesting either a lack of clarity about its framework or an unwillingness to join.  

Introduction

The Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) is a foreign policy proposal introduced by Xi Jinping at the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting on 15 March 2023. Xi Jinping stated that China was “ready to work with the international community to open up a new prospect of enhanced inter-civilizational exchanges and mutual understanding among countries…”. [i]

Primarily, the GCI centres on ‘four common advocacies’—inclusiveness among civilisations, and exchanges transcending estrangement; humanity as a common value rather than imposing one’s civilisational value over others; preserving cultural traditions while innovating culture or practices to solve modern-day problems; and promoting people-to-people exchanges and inter-civilisational dialogue.[ii] China claims that the idea behind the GCI is to promote the civilisational and cultural values of all countries and regions, while rejecting the dominance of Western civilisational values as standard values.[iii] Xi Jinping, while proposing the GCI, pointed out that the co-existence of diverse civilisations will help transcend feelings of superiority.[iv]

The GCI tries to deconstruct the ‘civilisational superiority’ and ‘civilisational hierarchy’ theories rooted in hegemonic narratives. At the same time, the GCI also aims to boost China’s international influence, offering a cultural and ideological counterweight to Western-led global norms.[v] It positions Beijing as a champion of non-Western heritage and equal partnership among Global South countries.[vi]

The GCI advocates using civilisational exchanges to transcend civilisational barriers, eliminate antagonisms arising from cultural differences, and consolidate the foundation of pluralistic symbiosis for a community with a shared future for humanity. [vii] This is also the core concept of Xi Jinping’s Thought on Diplomacy that calls for all nations to cooperate closely, respect one another, and share their interconnected destinies to solve global problems.[viii]

The GCI advocates that mindsets such as the belief that a strong nation must seek hegemony, the practice of the strong bullying the weak and the pursuit of a zero-sum game are increasingly out of step with the times.[ix] However, China doesn’t seem to practice the GCI’s advocacies. For instance, in December 2018, Beijing imposed trade restrictions on Canada’s agricultural exports to protest the Canadian arrest of a high-profile Chinese executive.[x] The Chinese military has intimidated the Philippines in the South China Sea.[xi]

Various actors behind the formulation, propagation, and implementation of the GCI include Xi Jinping, the State Council, the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Think Tanks, Academia, and others. Soon after Xi Jinping introduced the GCI, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said the GCI demonstrates the CPC’s responsibility in confronting humanity’s shared challenges and offers a Chinese solution to advance global modernisation and the progress of human civilisations.[xii] Similarly, the State Council’s ‘2025 Report on the Work of the Government’ in March 2025 also recommended the promotion and implementation of China’s four Global Initiatives. The report specifically noted that these initiatives seek to reform and develop the global governance system.[xiii]

GCI Implementation

China has not yet released any white paper or document detailing its framework, principles, and long-term objectives. Nonetheless, the essence and objectives of the GCI can be traced to speeches by senior Chinese leaders in recent years. For instance, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, while speaking at the ‘2026 International Day for Dialogue among Civilisations’, stated that human civilisation faces unprecedented challenges, including the erosion of the international rule of law and a deepening trust deficit.

China argues that unilateralism and hegemonism are eroding the international rule of law, and rejects any single nation or small bloc acting as ‘global police’. It denounces extraterritorial sanctions and economic measures imposed by Western powers without authorisation from the United Nations Security Council. Xi Jinping called for upholding the rule of international law at the SCO Plus meeting in Tianjin in September 2025.[xiv]

China also claims that trust in international relations is increasingly lacking.[xv] To address the weakening of the international rule of law and trust deficits, Wang Yi suggested using exchanges in various forms, as mentioned in the GCI, to foster unity and build consensus. Targeting the West, Wang Yi said that the enemy civilisation is not another civilisation, but rather supremacism, hegemonism, and arrogance. To counter existing hegemonism, he called for upholding a vision of civilisation based on equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness, which are the key elements of the GCI. Lastly, Wang Yi urged transcending narrow notions of “civilizational superiority” or the “clash of civilisations”, and striving for the harmonious coexistence and mutual enrichment of diverse civilisations.[xvi]

The Global Times cited similar reasons in March 2023, claiming that hatred and estrangement among different civilisations have seriously hindered international relations and indicate inequality in international relations.[xvii] Incidentally, this report was published two days after Xi Jinping introduced the GCI on 13 March 2023.

Some Chinese scholars argue that the GCI is an alternative to Western modernisation, purportedly featuring a ‘new type of international relations’ led by the Communist Party of China (CPC) through its core foreign policy concept of ‘Building a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind’. They contend that the GCI appears to be laden with geopolitical motives to challenge Western political and ideational influence.[xviii]

Contextualising the GCI, two Chinese scholars, Gong Yutao and Ren Xinhui, argue that the dominant narrative logic of civilisation development in the modern era has been Western-centric and forcibly channels diverse civilisation trajectories into a single track. [xix] They contend that the Western-dominant narrative implicitly regarded the European path of development as the ‘universal’ standard. [xx]  Moreover, they refer to works by American authors such as Samuel P. Huntington, who, in his book Clash of Civilisations and Remaking of World Order, positioned the West as ‘self’ and the rest as ‘others (Muslim and Asian Societies)’.[xxi] The authors propose the GCI to overcome the West’s civilisational superiority. [xxii]

In December 2025, Xinhua claimed that China has fostered a new form of human civilisation while advancing Chinese modernisation with coordinated development of material, political, spiritual, social, and ecological civilisation, an alternative to Western-centric models of development. [xxiii] The CPC proposed the ‘New Form of Human Civilisation’ as a highly developed state characterised by the coordinated advancement of material, political, spiritual, social, and ecological civilisation. [xxiv] It follows the path of Chinese modernisation that transcends Western capitalist-industrial civilisation, with culture as a crucial driving force.

The Xinhua commentary contends that promoting the GCI not only shatters the myth that ‘modernisation equals Westernisation’, but also contributes a practical model for harmonious coexistence of diverse civilisations.[xxv] It argues that the GCI provides a conceptual framework for nations to explore modernisation paths by respecting their own traditions and drawing on humanity’s collective wisdom.[xxvi] Chinese author Liu Zhiming has also contended that the GCI encourages countries to explore their own paths to modernisation.[xxvii]

GCI Implementation Methods

Several components of the GCI, such as people-to-people exchanges and cooperation, academic and think tank exchanges, and youth exchange programmes, have been part of China’s diplomatic work for several decades. However, as China’s ambition for global governance has emerged, these activities and practices have been streamlined under the GCI framework.[xxviii]

In recent years, several academic platforms were set up to promote the GCI such as the Institute of Chinese Classical Civilization in Athens, Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia (ACHA), the ‘Global South’ Think Tank Alliance, and China-Arab Center for the Global Civilization Initiative.[xxix] In addition, the United Nations (UN) designated ‘10 June’ as the ‘International Day for Dialogue among Civilization’ in 2024, a significant step toward implementing the GCI.[xxx] Major GCI conferences have included the China-LAC Civilizational Dialogue Conference held in May 2025 and the Ministerial Meeting on Global Civilisation Dialogue held in July 2025. [xxxi] Furthermore, to promote people-to-people exchanges, China now offers visa-free entry to 43 countries.[xxxii]

One key event China hosted to promote the GCI was the ‘International Forum on Mutual Learning among Civilization 2025’ in Macao in December 2025, with participants from government agencies, international organisations, and leading experts and scholars from nearly ten countries.[xxxiii] The forum agreed to follow the idea of jointly building a platform for dialogue among civilisations and putting the GCI into practice.[xxxiv]

Unlike economic projects like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), support for the GCI is generally expressed through political alignment, joint statements, and endorsement of multilateral cultural resolutions at bodies like the United Nations and UNESCO, rather than formal binding treaties. So far, only a few countries have joined the GCI, including Latin American and Caribbean countries, Cambodia, Serbia, [xxxv]and Bangladesh.[xxxvi] The GCI has been referenced in bilateral and joint statement declarations with Russia and Belarus.[xxxvii]

Latin American countries Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba have explicitly voiced support and joined the GCI. [xxxviii] In addition, nations such as Azerbaijan and Pakistan, and various African and Middle Eastern governments, have endorsed the GCI’s principles through joint communiqués or party-to-party dialogues with the CPC. The Central Asian countries have commended and expressed a willingness to implement the GCI. [xxxix]

Cambodia has signed a joint statement on ‘Building on All-weather Cambodia-China Community with a Shared Future in the New Era and Implementing the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative’. As agreed, the two sides will implement the GCI further to strengthen bilateral and multilateral people-to-people exchanges and cooperation and to facilitate mutual learning among civilisations.[xl]

In addition, China’s third Policy Paper on Latin America and the Caribbean, released on 10 December 2025, formally integrates Beijing’s overarching multilateral blueprints, including the Global Civilization Initiative, the Global Development Initiative (GDI), and the Global Security Initiative (GSI), into its regional strategy for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).[xli]

Limitations

One key deficit of the GCI is that the Chinese government has not released any white paper or policy document to provide a detailed framework. Unlike the Global Security Initiative, the objective or agenda behind the GCI is unclear, which is why few countries have joined it. GCI promotes activities such as people-to-people exchanges in various forms, which have been part of China’s soft power practices. Therefore, initiatives like the Global Security Initiative and the Global Development Initiative, which address security and development agendas, are more appealing for other countries to join than GCI’s civilisational or cultural agenda.

Moreover, as per the speeches of Xi Jinping while proposing the GCI in March 2023, the GCI is to create inclusiveness and equality among civilisations. However, Chinese newspaper reports and academic writings suggest the GCI has anti-West connotations while promoting Chinese culture and civilisation as an alternative to Western-centric culture and civilisation. Furthermore, the GCI operates through multilateral frameworks including the United Nations and the SCO, seeking broad international consensus. Since the GCI’s inception in March 2023, only a few countries with strong Chinese influence have joined the initiative, suggesting either a lack of clarity about the framework or an unwillingness to join. This may slow progress on the GCI or prevent it from achieving its set goals on time.

Views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Manohar Parrikar IDSA or of the Government of India.

[i]“Word of the Day | Global Civilization Initiative” (每日一词∣全球文明倡议 ), China Daily, 18 March 2023.

[ii]“Global Civilization Initiative (全球文明倡议)”, Baidu, 2026; Global Civilization Initiative“, Model Diplomat, 22 June 2026.

[iii] Wang Hou, “The Foundation of Excellent Chinese Traditional Culture in the “Global Civilization Initiative” (“全球文明倡议”的中华优秀传统文化底蕴)”, Sichuan Daily, 27 May 2024.

[iv] “Full text of Xi Jinping’s keynote address at the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-level Meeting”, The State Council Information Office, People’s Republic of China (PRC), 16 March 2023.

[v]“Global Civilization Initiative“, Model Diplomat, no. 2.

[vi] Ibid.

[vii] “Global Civilization Initiative (GCI)“, The Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies, 30 August 2024.

[viii] “Joining Hands to Build a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind: China’s Proposals and Actions (携手构建人类命运共同体：中国的倡议与行动)”, State Council Information Office, PRC, 26 September 2023.

[ix] Liu Zhiming (刘志明),”The Historical Context, Practical Exploration, and Global Significance of the Global Civilization Initiative (全球文明倡议的时代背景、实践探索和世界意义)”, People’s Tribune, 24 September 2025.

[x] Luke Patey, “China Is an economic bully – and weaker than It looks“, Danish Institute for International Studies, 14 January 2021.

[xi] “Addressing China’s Military Aggression in the Indo-Pacific Region“, The U.S. Department of Defense, 2021.

[xii] “Foreign Ministry Spokesperson: The Global Civilization Initiative is another important public good provided by China to the international community in the new era. (外交部发言人：全球文明倡议是新时代中国为国际社会提供的又一重要公共产品)”, Xinhua, 16 March 2023.

[xiii] “Global Civilization Initiative (全球文明倡议)”, Baidu, no. 2.

[xiv]“Upholding the International Rule of Law Is the Fundamental Guarantee—Building a More Just and Equitable Global Governance System (新华时评丨坚持国际法治是根本保障——构建更加公正合理的全球治理体系)”, Xinhua, 14 September 2025.

[xv] Qi Yibin, “Global Trust Crisis and International Trust Reconstruction (全球信任危机与国际信任重建)”, Academic Frontier, 28 August 2024.

[xvi] Wei Yunhui (卫芸辉), “Video Address by Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister, at the Global Themed Event for the 2026 “International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations” (中共中央政治局委员、外交部长王毅在2026年“文明对话国际日”全球主题活动上的视频致辞)”, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PRC, 9 June 2026.

[xvii] “Global Civilization Initiative – another gift from China to world: Global Times editorial“, Global Times, 17 March 2023.

[xviii] Chang-Yau Hoon and Ying-Kit Chan, “Reflections on China’s Latest Global Civilisation Agenda“, Fulcrum-Analysis of Southeast Asia, 4 September 2023.

[xix] Gong Yutao and Ren Xinrui, “The Global Civilization Initiative: Narrative and Paradigm Innovation in the Development of World Civilizations (全球文明倡议：世界文明发展的叙事与范式革新)”, Journal of the Central Institute of Socialism, Issue No. 2, 2026.

[xx] Ibid.

[xxi] Samuel P. Huntington, Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order, Simon & Schuster, 1996, Page No. 183.

[xxii] Ibid.

[xxiii] “Theory on the Development of Civilizations——Building a NewVision of Civilizations with Development at the Core“, Xinhua Institute, September 2025.

[xxiv]“Paving the way to a new form of human civilization through cultural innovation and civilizational construction“, GMW.cn, 25 June 2024.

[xxv]“Xinhua Commentary: Following the Right Path to Build a Better World—Injecting Stability and Certainty into a World of Unprecedented Changes Through Four Major Global Initiatives (新华社政论：循道而行，推动建设一个更加美好的世界——以四大全球倡议为百年变局注入稳定性和确定性)”, Xinhua, 21 December 2025.

[xxvii] Liu Zhiming (刘志明),”The Historical Context, Practical Exploration, and Global Significance of the Global Civilization Initiative (全球文明倡议的时代背景、实践探索和世界意义)”, People’s Tribune, 24 September 2025.

[xxviii]“Global Civilization Initiative (全球文明倡议)”, Baidu, no. 2.

[xxix] Wei Jing (魏婧),”3rd Anniversary of the Global Civilization Initiative | Three Years of the Global Civilization Initiative: Building a Foundation for Cooperation through Dialogue Among Civilizations and Promoting Global Prosperity through Mutual Learning (全球文明倡议3周年 | 全球文明倡议提出三周年：以文明对话筑合作之基，以交流互鉴促世界繁荣)”, China.org.cn,

[xxx] Ibid.

[xxxi]“Forging a Joint Force for Human Peace and Development: A Commentary on China Joining Hands with the International Community to Implement the Global Civilization Initiative (凝聚促进人类和平与发展的合力——中国同国际社会携手践行全球文明倡议述评)”, Xinhua News Agency, 9 July 2025.

[xxxii] “China expands visa-free access to 5 Latin American countries”, Xinhua, 2 June 2025.

[xxxiii] “1st “International Forum on Mutual Learning among Civilizations” successfully held over 300 guests gathered in Macao to promote inter-civilizational exchange and development“, Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), PRC, 19 December 2025.

[xxxiv] Ibid.

[xxxv]“China and Serbia to jointly promote the four global initiatives“, Friends of Socialist China, 29 May 2026.

[xxxvi]“Joint Communiqué Between the People’s Republic of China And the People’s Republic of Bangladesh“, Ministry of Foreign Affairs PRC, Beijing, 26 June 2026.

[xxxvii]“Global Civilization Initiative“, Model Diplomat, no. 2.

[xxxviii]“Multiple countries join or express support for China-proposed Global Governance Initiative: reports“, Global Times, 2 September 2025.

[xxxix]“Global Civilization Initiative (全球文明倡议)”, Baidu, no. 2.

[xl]“Joint Statement between The Kingdom of Cambodia and The People’s Republic of China on Building an All-weather Cambodia-China Community with a Shared Future in the New Era and Implementing the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative“, Press Release, Kingdom of Cambodia, 18 April 2025.

[xli]“Full text: China’s Policy Paper on Latin America and the Caribbean“, Xinhua, 10 December 2025.