Strengthening international cooperation and delivering on a UN pact that calls for reforming global governance, among other measures, was the focus of debate in the UN Security Council on Tuesday.
The ministerial-level meeting was convened by China, which holds the rotating Council presidency this month, as the UN prepares to mark its 80th anniversary later this year.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres opened the debate emphasizing that "global solidarity and solutions are needed more than ever" as the climate crisis rages and inequalities and poverty increase.
Peace remains illusive
"As this Council knows well, peace is getting pushed further out of reach - from the Occupied Palestinian Territory to Ukraine to Sudan to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and beyond," he said.
"Terrorism and violent extremism remain persistent scourges. We see a dark spirit of impunity spreading. The prospect of nuclear war remains - outrageously - a clear and present danger."
Emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) are also a challenge as their "limitless promise…is matched by limitless peril to undermine and even replace human thought, human identity and human control."
Pact for the Future
Mr. Guterres said "these global challenges cry out for multilateral solutions," and pointed to the Pact for the Future , adopted by Member States last September.
The agreement "is aimed at strengthening global governance for the 21st century and rebuilding trust" in multilateralism, the UN, and the Security Council .
Provisions include advancing coordination with regional organizations and ensuring the full participation of women, youth and marginalized groups in peace processes.
The Pact outlines support for a stimulus plan to help developing countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and revitalized commitment to reform the post-war global financial architecture to better serve the modern world.
It also contains a Global Digital Compact that calls for an AI governance body that allows developing countries to participate in decision-making, marking a first.
Security Council reform
"The Pact also recognizes that the Security Council must reflect the world of today, not the world of 80 years ago, and sets out important principles to guide this long-awaited reform," said Mr. Guterres.
The Council should be enlarged and made more representative of today's geopolitical realities, while countries also must continue to improve its working methods to make the body more inclusive, transparent, efficient, democratic and accountable.
He recalled that these issues have been under consideration by the UN General Assembly for more than a decade.
Build on momentum
"Now is the time to build on the momentum provided by the Pact for the Future, and work towards a greater consensus among regional groups and Member States - including the permanent members of this Council - to move the intergovernmental negotiations forward," he said.
"Throughout, I call on Members of this Council to overcome the divisions that are blocking effective action for peace."
He noted that Council members have shown reaching common ground is possible, for example through deploying peacekeeping operations and forging resolutions on humanitarian aid.
Spirited compromise
"Even in the darkest days of the Cold War, the collective decision-making and vigorous dialogue in this Council maintained a functioning, if imperfect, system of collective security," he said.
"I urge you to summon this same spirit, continue working to overcome differences and focus on building the consensus required to deliver the peace all people need and deserve."
The Secretary-General said multilateral cooperation is the beating heart of the United Nations, and guided by the solutions in the Pact for the Future, it can become an even more powerful instrument of peace,
"As we look to the challenges around us, I urge all Member States to continue strengthening and updating our global problem-solving mechanisms," he said. "Let's make them fit for purpose - fit for people - and fit for peace."
