The sculpture of a revolver with its barrel tied in a knot left a lasting impression on Qu Yingpu during his first visit to the United Nations headquarters in New York as a university student in 1989. More than three decades later, that symbol of humanity's aspiration for peace resonates even more strongly as the world faces renewed choices between cooperation and confrontation.

Speaking on Monday at a Vision China event at the UN headquarters, Qu, now publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily, used that personal memory to underscore China's commitment to strengthening global governance as the UN approaches its 80th anniversary next month.

"That sculpture symbolizes humanity's shared aspiration to end war, prohibit killing and pursue peace and development," Qu told the gathering. "That aspiration is as pertinent today as it was on the UN's founding."

Chinese President Xi Jinping views the UN as the core of the international system and has proposed four global initiatives to help support the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, Qu said.

The Global Governance Initiative, Qu said, embodies the core principles of sovereign equality, international rule of law and multilateralism, offering "Chinese wisdom and solutions for strengthening global governance" at a time when multilateral institutions face mounting challenges from unilateralism and power politics.

The Global Development Initiative promotes partnerships among all nations with a commitment that "no country and no person should be left behind", Qu said. He highlighted China's Belt and Road Initiative and South-South cooperation as examples of addressing developmental imbalances through consultation and mutual progress.

On security, China calls for dialogue rather than confrontation, partnership rather than alliance, and win-win outcomes rather than zero-sum games through the Global Security Initiative, said Qu, adding that the initiative aims to achieve common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security.

The Global Civilization Initiative emphasizes respect for diversity and strengthening cultural ties, he explained. "A peaceful world will only be achieved through mutual trust," he said, stressing the importance of pursuing "harmony in diversity" through exchanges among civilizations.

In recent years, China Daily, the country's only national English-language newspaper, has launched several international forums, including the Vision China series and the RCEP Regional Development Media& Think Tank Forum, and the Cultural Heritage Conservation Forum, to facilitate dialogue between China and the world.

Qu compared today's global challenges with the victory over fascism 80 years ago, when Chinese people fought alongside Allied countries and peoples worldwide. Quoting President Xi, he said that "humanity rises and falls together", and that lasting peace requires all countries to "treat each other as equals, coexist in peace and support each other".

Qu concluded by calling for collective efforts to "improve global governance, advance global modernization and to become a global community with a shared future".

"In doing so, the noble causes of world peace and common development will surely prevail," he said.