BRUSSELS, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Global Governance Initiative proposed by China offers a promising vision for upholding the international rule of law, strengthening multilateralism, and enhancing representation of small nations, said Obrad Kesic, ambassador and head of mission of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to the European Union (EU), in a recent interview with Xinhua.
Kesic said the initiative emphasizes that a stable global system should be built on respect for international law rather than the dominance of power, which resonates strongly with many small and developing countries.
"When I hear somebody in the West say rule-based order, it doesn't give me confidence," he said, adding that the so-called rules-based order "is not established on international rule of law but on who writes, creates the rules and how they interpret them."
"In the last several decades, those rules favored the interests of the West, primarily the United States," he said.
"For small countries, we find ourselves under great pressure," Kesic explained. "If the rules take precedence over the law, it means that small countries' guarantees of equality are taken away."
Kesic said China's Global Governance Initiative offers a practical framework for small and vulnerable nations to safeguard their sovereignty and rights, helping to reshape a global system long dominated by the West.
He also highlighted the initiative's emphasis on multilateralism, saying that multilateral mechanisms ensure equality among nations regardless of wealth or size.
"China calls for states in the international system to be equal. Under the multilateral system, everybody feels that they're represented," Kesic said.
According to Kesic, China's proposals are action-oriented, focusing on resolving real problems.
"Many discussions in the West are almost empty talks," Kesic said. "It was never real. It was a political campaign waged by elites to present a moral superiority."
Kesic said he expects further development of multilateral platforms promoted by China, such as BRICS. "If there are systems that offer more space and freedom for small nations to act, it will alleviate the pressure that's constantly being applied not only economically, but also more importantly politically on us," he said.