【This Issue’s Guide】

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. In this special historical year that connects the past with the future, President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Governance Initiative at the “Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus” meeting, further contributing Chinese wisdom to strengthening and improving global governance.

“We must advance with the logic of historical progress and develop with the trends of the times.” The Global Governance Initiative is another important public good contributed by China to resolve global conflicts and challenges, following the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative. The four global initiatives each have their own focus and are mutually reinforcing. They provide a “Chinese key” from the four dimensions of development, security, civilization, and governance to answer the world’s question, the historical question, and the question of the times: “What is happening to the world, and what should we do?” This demonstrates China’s role as a major country in international affairs. The international community has stated that China’s series of global initiatives clearly respond to the real problems facing the world, provide new ideas and paradigms for global governance, and showcase China’s continuous efforts to offer more public goods and contribute Chinese solutions to the world.

Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression

The Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1937-1945) was a major theater of World War II, marking China’s struggle against imperial Japanese invasion. It began with the Marco Polo Bridge Incident and involved widespread conflict, resulting in immense Chinese casualties. This war is a foundational event in modern Chinese history, symbolizing national resilience and unity.

World Anti-Fascist War

The World Anti-Fascist War, more commonly known as World War II, was a global conflict fought from 1939 to 1945 between the Allied powers and the Axis powers. It was a monumental struggle against fascist aggression and expansionism, resulting in profound geopolitical changes and the establishment of the United Nations to promote international peace and cooperation.

United Nations

The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945 after World War II to promote peace, security, and cooperation among nations. It was established to replace the ineffective League of Nations and is headquartered on international territory in New York City. Today, it provides a forum for its 193 member states to address global issues such as conflict, climate change, and human rights.

Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus (SCO+) is an expanded dialogue format that includes the core member states of the SCO alongside observer states and dialogue partners. It was established to foster broader cooperation on regional security, economic, and cultural issues, building upon the original SCO’s foundation which began with the “Shanghai Five” mechanism in 1996. This framework aims to enhance multilateral collaboration across a wider Eurasian region.