GENEVA, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations (UN) Office at Geneva and Other International Organizations in Switzerland hosted the launch meeting of the Group of Friends of Global Governance (GFGG) here on Friday.

Representatives from nearly 60 countries attended the meeting, including 42 founding members of the GFGG.

Addressing the meeting, Jia Guide, China's permanent representative to the UN Office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland, said that the current international situation is complex and evolving.

In response, China has put forward the Global Governance Initiative, which highlights five core principles: upholding sovereign equality, adhering to the international rule of law, practicing multilateralism, advocating the people-centered approach, and prioritizing concrete actions.

The Initiative presents China's approach for addressing the defining questions of our time such as what kind of global governance system to build, and how to reform and improve global governance, Jia said.

Rooted in the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, the Initiative constitutes an important measure to address global challenges and safeguard multilateralism, he added.

He also said Geneva, home to numerous UN bodies and specialized organizations, serves as a key hub for global governance and China stands ready to take the establishment of the GFGG as an opportunity to work with all parties to explore pathways for reforming and improving global governance, and to contribute to building a more just and equitable global governance system.

Permanent representatives of Cuba, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Palestine, Venezuela, and Zambia, as members of the GFGG, also delivered statements.

Meanwhile, participants have expressed strong recognition and support for the Global Governance Initiative, commended China's leading role in global governance, and voiced expectations that the GFGG would strengthen communication and coordination on the Geneva platform, promote dialogue and cooperation, and forge synergies to advance the reform and improvement of global governance. ■