China News Service, September 15th (Bian Lei Sweet) In 2020, mankind has encountered the most serious global crisis since World War II.
Under the COVID-19 pandemic, social problems in many countries have become prominent, the world economy has been hit, and the international order is facing many challenges...
On September 15, local time, the 75th UN General Assembly kicked off.
"I strive to guide the global effort for peace," took "consensus building" as one of the core tasks of the term of office, as the new UN General Assembly President Bozker once pointed out with high expectations.
Standing at a new historical node, revisiting the original aspirations and missions, upholding and promoting multilateralism, and jointly promoting the reorganization of the United Nations and starting again are important tasks and unanimous goals for all countries.
United Nations Headquarters Secretariat Building in New York.
Image source: United Nations official website United Nations Photo Rick Bajornas
List of the agenda of the 75th UN General Assembly
Affected by the epidemic, this UN General Assembly meeting will be held online for the first time.
Although the conference is not as packed as before, the agenda is still full.
·On September 15th, the conference opened, and the plenary meeting of the opening ceremony was held by keeping the distance.
· On September 21, a high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations was held.
The celebration will be held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and will be broadcast live online.
·From September 22, the "Main Event" general debate started.
World leaders can send their pre-recorded speech video "cloud" to participate in the conference.
·The conference will also hold the Biodiversity Summit on September 30; the 25th anniversary high-level meeting of the Fourth World Conference on Women will be held on October 1; the high-level plenary meeting will be held on October 2 to commemorate and promote the International Day for the Complete Elimination of Nuclear Weapons .
"Moving forward with weight" under the epidemic
"The situation of the epidemic is very severe, and no one can stay aside." As early as the beginning of the epidemic, Ndiaye, head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Central Africa, expressed concern.
As of mid-June, nearly 1,000 staff members of the United Nations have been infected with the new crown.
At present, more than 200 employees have been infected in Syria alone.
Due to the nature of their work, United Nations personnel who travel around for many years face a huge risk of infection.
At the same time, as many countries have adopted measures to restrict entry due to the epidemic, the work of the United Nations has also been affected, and humanitarian assistance operations have once encountered the risk of interruption.
Data map: Syrian refugee children resettled in Austria with the help of UNHCR and other agencies.
Image source: UN website: UNHCR image Mark Henley
But this is a race against time!
The United Nations has not slowed down because of this: In order to protect the 71 million refugees and forcibly displaced people around the world from the threat of the new crown virus, the UN refugee agency actively raises funds to provide support such as food and protective equipment; due to the impact of the epidemic, the number of hungry people in the world By the end of 2020, it may increase to 270 million, and the United Nations Food Program will launch the largest humanitarian response in history...
After recovering from the new crown, Beasley, Executive Director of the World Food Program, rushed to Africa to start work.
"I have the greatest job on earth." "But this job is also heartbreaking. I must raise more money and get more aid channels." He said.
The 75th UN General Assembly President Bozker pointed out: "The outbreak coincides with the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. The epidemic clearly reminds us of the importance of effective multilateralism, especially the key role of the United Nations and its agencies."
The World Food Program delivers medical equipment from its warehouse in Panama to countries in the region.
Image source: WFP image on the official website of the United Nations
At a critical juncture, the United States "plays against the tune"
However, at a critical moment when the world is working together to fight the epidemic, the United States continues to "seeking trouble" for the United Nations.
The United States suddenly announced in mid-April that it would "cut off the confession" of the WHO, and less than three months later, notified the United Nations that it would officially withdraw from the WHO in July 2021.
Even the United States still wants to use up the $80 million in dues owed to the WHO.
In addition, the United States has recently "pointed at each other" in an attempt to forcibly restore UN sanctions against Iran.
Since the United States has withdrawn from the Iran nuclear agreement and is no longer a participant in the agreement, this move has triggered opposition from Britain, France, Germany and Russia.
In recent years, from the United Nations Human Rights Council and UNESCO to the "Paris Agreement" and the Iran Nuclear Agreement... the United States has unilaterally breached its contract and withdrawn from the group, which has interfered with the normal operation of international multilateral organizations.
Data map: On May 18, the opening ceremony of the Seventy-third World Health Assembly was held in the form of a video conference.
The picture shows the WHO Director-General Ghebreyesus giving a speech.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Peng Dawei
In particular, when the epidemics in many countries have not retreated, the actions of the United States have undoubtedly added unnecessary trouble to the United Nations.
On September 11, a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly was approved by 169 countries, and the United States became one of only two countries that voted against it.
This resolution covers multiple aspects of how to fight the epidemic and urges the strengthening of international cooperation.
The United States tried to delete multiple paragraphs from the resolution, but was defeated by an overwhelming majority.
The vast majority of countries have chosen the path of unity and multilateralism. Raz, the Permanent Representative of Afghanistan to the United Nations, said that there is obviously no market for actions that want to undermine global unity and fight the epidemic.
Corey Schek, deputy director of the British Institute for International Strategic Studies, said in a statement that the global impact of the new crown epidemic could have been greatly weakened by the role of international organizations. This is what the United States, as the world's only superpower, should set an example.
However, in this leadership test, the United States "failed".
All kinds of unilateral acts on the fight against the epidemic and vaccines have hindered the efforts of the international community.
Funding problem letter to be resolved
"Millions of Yemenis are struggling and may die because they don't have enough funds." Nearly a month ago, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen Gland issued a warning that half of Yemen's aid projects were unsustainable due to insufficient funds.
Data map: On February 26, 2019, Yemeni children were sitting in a displacement camp.
And this is just the tip of the iceberg. The UN aid projects that may be forced to be suspended due to financial difficulties are far more than that.
In response to "the most serious financial crisis in the past 10 years", at the end of 2019, the United Nations adopted severe cost-saving measures and even closed the escalators in the office building and the fountain in the headquarters compound.
As a result, at the meeting, someone initiated a "soul torture" on the deputy spokesperson of the Secretary-General: how much money can be saved by turning off the second-story escalator?
After the spread of the new crown epidemic, the increase in expenditure and the collection of dues were "lower than expected", which made the UN's funds stretched.
The operating expenses of the United Nations are shared by all 193 member states, and the specific ratio is determined by the economic strength of the member states. The United States has the highest apportionment ratio.
Therefore, the United States habitually pays late and underpays dues, so that the United Nations often faces a crisis of financial difficulties.
As of May 14, the United States owed the UN dues up to $1.165 billion.
The United Nations website shows that as of September 3, 115 member states have paid their dues, and the United States is still not on the list.
As of September 3, 2020, 115 Member States have paid their 2020 regular budget assessments in full.
Image source: screenshot of the UN official website.
The United Nations plays an important role in safeguarding multilateralism, advancing global governance, and promoting common development.
Giving the United Nations sufficient financial support is perhaps the wisest choice for all countries today.
“The new crown epidemic will eventually end, but the climate crisis, inequality, and poverty will continue.” said Varovaya, the director of the United Nations Office in Geneva. “This will enable solidarity and international cooperation in the process of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. It’s more important than ever."
New thinking under the "Eternal Guide"
Today, global challenges continue to increase. Against the background of rising unilateralism and protectionism, it is vital to firmly support multilateralism and firmly defend the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.
Looking back 75 years ago, the representatives of 50 countries unanimously adopted the "United Nations Charter", and applause rang through the entire auditorium.
Since then, the charter has become the "eternal guide" for coping with common global challenges.
At the final meeting, then US President Truman said in a speech, "This "United Nations Charter" is a solid structure on which we can build a better world. History will greet you for this... …"
On June 26, 1945, the signing ceremony of the "United Nations Charter" was held at the "Veterans War Memorial" in San Francisco, USA.
Photo source: United Nations official website United Nations Photo Yould
At the UN General Assembly meeting on September 3, 2020, the President of the 74th UN General Assembly Mohamed Bandy also urged people to take immediate multilateral action to fulfill their development financing commitments, "Let us unite as nations. Let us continue to work together. To provide services to everyone."
UN Secretary-General Guterres pointed out that the Charter "brought rules and hope for a world in ruins."
He said that the world is facing severe security challenges, and no country or organization can deal with it alone, so there is an urgent need for global unity.
As the largest developing country and a permanent member of the Security Council, China actively practices the lofty ideals of the United Nations, continuously promotes the great cause of peace and development of mankind, and takes concrete actions to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
On September 10, the "China Position Paper on the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of the United Nations" issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China pointed out that under the new situation, China will continue to fulfill its responsibilities as a major country, show its responsibility as a major country, make major country contributions, and provide more global public products. Contribute to the cause of world peace and development.
Looking back at the 75 years since the founding of the United Nations, the mainstream of multilateralism has never changed.
At a time when the world is facing multiple challenges, it is the common task and responsibility of all countries to firmly defend multilateralism, work together to advance global governance in the post-epidemic era, and build a community with a shared future for mankind.
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