Keith Bennett discusses Xiong’an’s approach to urban governance, China’s modernisation and the role of the Global South in global governance.
Keith Bennett, vice chairman of the 48 Group Club in the UK, sees Xiong’an as an example of how urban development can offer lessons for governance. Speaking during the 2026 Global Governance Forum (Xiong’an), held from October 23th to 25th, he said the city’s approach could provide useful reference points for other countries.
For Bennett, urban governance forms part of national governance, while global governance draws on the experiences of countries around the world. He views Xiong’an as a practical example of this connection. Its development places emphasis on green and low-carbon growth, circular development and the integration of these principles into areas such as transport and industrial planning.
Bennett first visited China in 1981. Since then, he has witnessed the country’s transformation, from addressing basic needs such as food and clothing to becoming a major centre for innovation and research. He sees China’s modernisation as an effort to ensure that more people benefit from economic development.
He also links this approach to China’s governance system. The country’s whole-process people’s democracy has particularly interested him. As an example, he pointed to the preparation of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, during which public views were gathered and the concerns of different groups considered. In his view, the process reflects the role of consultation in building consensus.
Bennett also drew a contrast between China’s modernisation and the historical development of Western countries. He argued that Western industrialisation often relied on resource extraction and came at the expense of less developed regions. By contrast, he sees China’s modernisation as a development path that can benefit China while creating opportunities for other countries.
Global governance reform is another issue that Bennett has followed closely. He sees China’s Global Governance Initiative (GGI) as relevant to growing calls from the Global South and smaller countries for a greater voice in international affairs. The initiative, in his view, highlights sovereign equality, national independence and the role of developing countries in global governance.
For Bennett, Xiong’an represents more than the construction of a new city. Its development offers a case through which to examine how urban planning, sustainability and governance intersect, and how national development choices relate to wider debates about global governance.
Additional reporting by CNS.
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