(Fighting New Coronary Pneumonia) Secretary-General of the United Nations: The new coronavirus is the current number one threat to global security
China News Service, United Nations, September 16-Joint Secretary-General Guterres said at a press conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York on the 16th that the new crown virus has become the number one threat to global security and the international community must unite to fight the virus.
Data map: UN Secretary General Guterres speaks.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Liao Pan
As usual in previous years, Guterres will hold a press conference before the opening of the general debate of the General Assembly every year to introduce his concerns.
He said that the new crown virus is "unseen before in our lives" a major challenge, which also led to this year's UN General Assembly held in an unprecedented manner.
Guterres said that in response to the new crown pneumonia epidemic, he issued a global ceasefire initiative in March this year. Currently, he has seen exciting progress in Afghanistan, Sudan and other countries.
However, the situation in many other hotspots is still tense, and the distrust of all parties remains deep.
I will make a strong appeal at the UN General Assembly, urging the international community to take practical actions to promote a truly global ceasefire before the end of this year.
He said that during the UN General Assembly, all countries should seize all opportunities and work together to promote peace; this is also an opportunity for the international community to unite in order to defeat the virus.
Speaking of the new crown virus vaccine, Guterres emphasized that there is no panacea for the epidemic, and vaccines alone cannot be expected to solve the crisis in the short term.
Countries must expand existing tools, innovate response methods, control the spread of the virus, and treat confirmed patients.
On the other hand, the new coronavirus vaccine must also be regarded as a global public good.
He pointed out that vaccines must be affordable and easily accessible to everyone.
This requires the international community to increase financial support for UN-related projects.
Guterres said that while promoting the popularization of vaccines, we must also ensure that people are willing to vaccinate.
He pointed out that since the outbreak, a large amount of false information has been spread, which has caused doubts about vaccines around the world.
The international community must do its utmost to eliminate the influence of false information.
Guterres said that the new crown pneumonia pandemic has exposed the existing global challenges of human society, such as the slow progress of the sustainable development agenda and sustainable development goals, and the intensification of climate change.
The recovery after the epidemic is a period of opportunity for mankind to solve these challenges. Therefore, the recovery after the epidemic must meet the requirements of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement; we must get rid of dependence on fossil fuels and high-polluting industries; and we must promote gender equality.
Recovery after the epidemic also requires an "effective" multilateralism.
"We must show unprecedented unity to overcome the current crisis, to promote the world to return to normal, to prosper again, and to adhere to the vision of the United Nations Charter." Guterres said. (Finish)