The Global Governance Initiative, unveiled by President Xi Jinping at a summit two weeks ago, was in the spotlight on Monday at a forum at the United Nations marking the world body's 80th anniversary, with China's top UN envoy and experts calling it a pathway to revitalizing multilateralism and international cooperation.

At the Vision China event, held under the theme "Standing United: Inheriting the UN Legacy, Advancing Global Governance," China's permanent representative to the UN Fu Cong recalled the UN's achievements in advancing world peace, development and human progress, but warned that its structures were under strain.

"What we are grappling with today are the underrepresentation of the Global South, the undermined authority of multilateralism, and the underperformance of the international community as a whole in addressing global challenges," he said.

The Global Governance Initiative, put forward by Xi on Sept 1 at the "Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus" Meeting in Tianjin, has "immediately captured the world's attention, and has been warmly received by the international community", Fu said.

He cited UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' endorsement of the initiative's multilateral focus and defense of an international order grounded in law.

The initiative is founded on five core concepts: sovereign equality, international rule of law, multilateralism, a people-centered approach, and real results.

"Together, they outline the principles and pathways for improving the global governance system," Fu said, adding that the core concepts "echo the very purposes and principles of the UN Charter".

The initiative also demonstrates China's firm support for the UN's central role in international affairs, Fu told the gathering, which was co-hosted by China Daily and the Permanent Mission of China to the UN.