• Premier Li Qiang warns of a resurgence in unilateralism and a Cold War mentality, creating a new period of global instability.
  • The remarks, delivered at the UN, frame China as a champion of multilateralism and reform of global governance.
  • The speech comes as China takes steps to stabilize its own markets and signals a shift in its stance at the World Trade Organization.

A Call for Cooperation at the UN

Chinese Premier Li Qiang issued a stark warning that the world is entering a new period of turbulence and change, marked by the comeback of unilateralism and a Cold War mentality. He delivered the message during his address at the High-Level Meeting on the Global Development Initiative at the United Nations in New York on September 23, 2025, positioning China as a bulwark against these fragmenting forces.

Li emphasized that the antidotes to these challenges are strengthened global governance, openness, and international cooperation. He called for a balanced approach to peace, development, and human rights, with a greater emphasis on the development agenda. The speech served as a platform to promote China's four major global initiatives, which officials see as frameworks for fostering shared benefits and stability.

Economic Actions and Political Messaging

The premier's geopolitical warning aligns with recent economic moves by Beijing. In recent weeks, Chinese authorities have implemented swift measures to stabilize volatile domestic capital markets, aiming to shield the economy from external shocks and restore investor confidence. Separately, China announced it will not seek new special and differential treatment in future negotiations at the World Trade Organization, a signal interpreted by analysts as an effort to bolster its credentials as a responsible stakeholder in the multilateral system.

Efforts to reach representatives from China's UN mission for further comment on the premier's address were not immediately successful.

Positioning in the Global South

A significant part of Li's address focused on China's role in supporting developing nations. He highlighted that initiatives like the Global Development Initiative have already mobilized over US$23 billion for development projects and spawned 1,800 cooperation efforts since 2021. Looking ahead, China plans to launch 2,000 new livelihood projects in developing countries over the next five years, a clear effort to solidify its leadership role in the Global South amid the turbulence Li described.

The remarks echo calls China made at the BRICS Summit earlier this year for the bloc to become a "vanguard" in reforming global governance. With uncertainty clouding the international outlook, China is methodically positioning itself as a source of stability and an alternative to what it characterizes as a divisive Western-led order.