Copy Reference Since its establishment in 1945, the United Nations (UN) has remained committed to maintaining international peace and security, protecting human rights, delivering humanitarian aid, promoting sustainable development, and upholding international law. With 193 member states, the world’s largest multilateral organization has served as an important platform for international cooperation on global issues.
In recent years, however, challenges to multilateralism have arisen due to a rise of protectionism, anti-globalization, and populism. The Trump administration’s withdrawal of the United States from multilateral agencies and frameworks such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Paris Climate Agreement has harmed the credibility of the UN in addressing global issues. The UN’s 75th anniversary this September presented a pristine opportunity for the world to reconsider the role of the organization and reinvigorate multilateralism.
Immediate Challenges
Member states of the UN have met every September in the General Assembly Hall at UN Headquarters in New York for the annual session and general debate. However, the modalities of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) differed this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was held virtually with a majority of world leaders delivering speeches via video link on the theme “the future we want, the UN we need: reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism—confronting COVID-19 through effective multilateral action.”
During the UNGA this year, a high-level meeting took place on September 21 to commemorate the UN’s 75th anniversary, and a forward-looking political declaration was adopted at the meeting.
“The ongoing global health crisis is at the top of the UN agenda,” said Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, president of the 74th session of the UNGA. “International cooperation on vaccine development is urgently needed, and the vaccine should be given to anyone who needs it.” During his year of service since September 2019, he observed that an escalation of disputes between countries, coupled with the COVID-19 outbreak, has posed new challenges for the UN. China’s commitment to make coronavirus vaccines a global public product is of great significance to the world, he stressed.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is a clear test of international cooperation, a test we have essentially failed,” remarked UN Secretary-General António Guterres. “It has killed nearly a million people around the world, infected over 30 million, and remains largely out of control. This was the result of a lack of global preparedness, cooperation, unity, and solidarity.”
“The dangerous mix of high geo-political tensions and complex threats to peace, now complicated by COVID-19, demands innovative thinking on global governance and multilateralism,” the UN chief added.
The UN Secretary-General also called for increased international efforts, led by the UN Security Council, to achieve global cease-fire by the end of this year. “Alongside the responsibility of the UN to improve the effectiveness of global governance, member states also have an equally important role in forging collective action to common challenges,” he said.
China’s Commitment
Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed his country’s commitment to multilateralism and the UN in his speech at the general debate of the 75th session of the UNGA via video link. He called for enhanced international solidarity to fight the pandemic and other global challenges. “We should reject attempts to arrange exclusive blocs and oppose the zero-sum approach,” he said. “We should see each other as members of the same big family, pursue win-win cooperation, and rise above ideological disputes to avoid falling into the trap of ‘clash of civilizations.’ Most importantly, we should respect a country’s independent choice of development path and model.”
Against the backdrop of a rise of protectionism and Western countries threatening to move supply chains out of China, President Xi urged all countries to uphold the multilateral trading regime with the World Trade Organization as the cornerstone. “We should reject unilateralism and protectionism, and work to ensure stable and smooth functioning of global industrial and supply chains,” he said. He suggested competition between countries be positive and healthy in nature, not breach moral standards, and comply with international norms. “Major countries should act like major countries,” he added. “They should provide more global public goods, meet their responsibilities, and live up to expectations.”
Reaffirming his nation’s commitment to peaceful development, President Xi pledged that China will never seek hegemony, expansion, or sphere of influence, declaring, “We have no intention to fight either a Cold War or a hot war with any country.” He also stressed that China will continue to narrow differences and resolve disputes with other countries through dialogue and negotiation. “We do not seek to develop in isolation or engage in a zero-sum game,” he said. “We will not pursue development behind closed doors. Rather, we aim to foster, over time, a new development paradigm with domestic circulation as the driving force and domestic and international circulations reinforcing each other. This will create more space for China’s economic development and add impetus to global economic recovery and growth.”
Reflecting on the role of the UN in the post COVID-19 era, President Xi pointed out that the UN must “stand firm for justice,” “uphold the rule of law,” “promote cooperation,” and “focus on real action.” On justice, he suggested all countries come together to uphold universal security, share the fruits of development, and jointly determine the future of the world. “There must be no practice of exceptionalism or double standards. Nor should international law be distorted.” President Xi also underlined the importance of cooperation, urging the world to “replace conflict with dialogue, coercion with consultation, and zero-sum with win-win.” To practice the principle of multilateralism, he called on all countries “to act, not just talk,” and stressed development of a cure rather than temporary treatment.
In his remarks, the UN secretary-general expressed appreciation for China remaining a true follower of multilateralism that upholds the UN-centered international system. China has played an active role in developing initiatives on climate change, sustainable development, and other major issues, he said, and the UN hopes for enhanced cooperation with China in this regard.
ASEAN Support
President Xi’s statements on multilateral action have been favorably received by the international community, especially the ASEAN bloc. Leaders of ASEAN member states agree that China has played its part as a responsible major country and provided the world with hope in the face of crises and ways forward at crossroads. They believe that China will make a greater contribution to upholding multilateralism within the framework of the United Nations.
“[The UN] represents an ideal and shared commitment of all nations to realize world peace and prosperity for our future generations,” said Indonesian President Joko Widodo in a video address to the UNGA this year. “The UN needs to be more responsive and effective in tackling global challenges, especially in times of crisis.”
In his virtual speech at the UNGA general debate, President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte underlined the importance of coordinated international plans in recovery from the global pandemic. “The COVID-19 vaccine must be considered a global public good,” he said. President Duterte also called for a global health agenda with sufficient resources and policy space for the WHO. The UN health agency should be “quick to coordinate and quicker to respond,” he added.
“We must remember that because COVID-19 does not discriminate, our response should not either,” said Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in his speech at the high-level meeting to commemorate the UN’s 75th anniversary. During the general debate, he stated that Malaysia remains committed to its role as a constructive and reliable partner of the UN and its member states and that his country pledged to continue working with the international community to combat the pandemic and reconstruct a post-COVID-19 world.
President of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong emphasized at the UNGA that the world must be resolute and embrace perseverance in advancing cooperation and friendship to counter conflict and hostility. “We must choose dialogue over confrontation and peaceful settlement of disputes over unilateral acts of imposition,” he said. “We need a UN that is truly cohesive and inclusive, where every member, large or small, rich or poor, has a voice in deciding matters of common concern.”
Singapore-based Lianhe Zaobao printed an editorial explaining how the international landscape has changed dramatically since the founding of the UN. It suggested the world attribute 75 years of peace and development to multilateralism. When confronting formidable challenges, UN reform is needed to maintain the rules-based multilateral system.
Indonesian daily Jakarta Post cited President Joko Widodo statements that Indonesia will continue to play the role of a bridge builder as part of the solution to global challenges, suggesting that with the world at a crossroads, the UN lead its member states in a more effective manner to closer cooperation.
Chea Munyrith, director of Planning and Project Department of the Cambodian Civil Society Alliance Forum, opined that a stronger and more efficient UN system is needed to provide epidemic-related assistance to developing countries where people often lack medical supplies and expertise while absorbing more of the economic losses. He also applauded Chinese President Xi’s call for the rule of law, joint cooperation, and multilateral solutions. He called China’s valuable experience fighting COVID-19 worth learning from.
Earlier this year, the UN75 initiative was launched as the world’s largest conversation about current global challenges, and over a million participants around the world shared aspirations, hopes, and priorities for the future. According to the UN75 survey, a majority of respondents are most concerned about access to medical care, education, and other basic public services. Enhanced international cooperation seeking a more equal and inclusive global economy is also widely expected. On sustainable development, climate change and ecological damage are the two issues of greatest concern. More than 87 percent of interviewees agreed that the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need for concerted efforts around the globe.
With real challenges ahead, ASEAN member states have joined most other countries in the world to continue embracing multilateralism and the international system with the UN at its core.
UN Headquarters in New York City, USA. (VISUAL.PEOPLE.CN)
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a speech at the general debate of the 75th session of the UNGA via video link on September 22, 2020. (ESKINDER DEBEBE/UN)
UN Secretary-General António Guterres (left) talks with UNGA President Volkan Bozkir before the UNGA high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the UN on September 21, 2020. (ESKINDER DEBEBE/UN)