BEIJING (Realist English). China should develop its own international relations knowledge system, grounded in its history, cultural traditions and geopolitical realities, a leading government adviser has said.
Zheng Yongnian, dean of the School of Public Policy at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, told People’s Daily on Monday that a China-centric framework would more accurately explain Beijing’s foreign policy and global role than theories rooted in the West.
He described the pursuit of intellectual autonomy as a strategic priority, arguing that existing schools of thought such as realism, liberalism and constructivism limit understanding of China’s position in the world.
Zheng’s remarks closely mirror Beijing’s newly launched Global Governance Initiative (GGI), unveiled by President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit earlier this month. The GGI advocates for a multipolar, inclusive international order based on sovereign equality, shared development and multilateral cooperation.
The initiative, presented just days before a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, is widely seen as a signal of China’s intent to challenge the US-led system under President Donald Trump and assert a stronger leadership role in global affairs.