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by Alain Noudehou
BEIJING, Oct. 22 (Xinhuanet) -- Seventy years ago, fifty-one nations came together to sign the United Nations (UN) Charter. After World War II and millions of deaths, the international community sought peace, justice and social progress. The UN charter gave humanity hope for such a future.
Today, we celebrate the noble aspirations of the UN: that the nations of the world commit to resolve their differences peacefully; to promote dignity and human rights; to foster social and economic development; to protect our environment; and to provide humanitarian aid in case of famine, natural disaster, and armed conflict.
Although we have not experienced another world war since 1945, the United Nations is as relevant in 2015 as it was back in 1945. Strong UN continues to be much needed now and in the future.
The world looks very different today than it did seventy years ago. Seven billion people now live on our planet compared to two billion in 1945. Advancements in medicine have eradicated terrible illnesses and progress in technologies have made the world more interconnected than ever before. And China is now the world's second biggest economy, having lifted more than 400 million people out of poverty just between 1990 and 2011 alone.
The stable and peaceful global environment that has prevailed following the establishment of the United Nations has facilitated this progress. The UN's direct contributions also include the eradication of diseases such as small pox, mediation to achieve peace as needed, the facilitation of impactful treaties benefiting people and our planet, and the provision of assistance to millions of refugees and other people in need.
Despite these commendable achievements, much remains to be done which requires the sustained and diligent engagement of a Strong UN.
We are today faced with an increasing number of interrelated challenges: Conflict situations are more complex and involve multiple nations; more than one billion people still live in poverty; non-state terrorism continues to rise; and the pace of urbanization is increasing. Other challenges include the massive movements of people through migration; the higher frequency of pandemics; the growing manifestations of climate change; and the rising level of inequality within and among nations.
All of these challenges are multifaceted with profound impact on our social, political and economic wellbeing. They transcend national borders and require our collective response. No single country can address them alone.
International cooperation is thus more critical than ever. Effective dialogue among nations, with a strong spirit of solidarity is very much needed to eliminate poverty, to foster peace, and to protect the health of our planet. As the Secretary General has said “In many respects, the world is shifting beneath our feet. Yet the Charter remains a firm foundation for shared progress.”
The good news is that 2015 presents us with an extraordinary opportunity to reinforce the principles of multilateralism and to come together to find durable solutions. The adoption of the 2030 Action Agenda for Sustainable Development, in September at the UN Sustainable Development Summit, is a universal commitment to end extreme poverty in all its forms, fight inequality and tackle environmental challenges. Through the wide range of issues covered, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) address the interconnected challenges the world is facing.
Full commitment from member states, national actors, citizens and all concerned organizations is now required to successfully implement these global goals. Going forward, the UN's partnership with China will be pivotal. Building on the unprecedented transformative social and economic progress made in the country, and as one of the first countries to sign the United Nations Charter, China will continue to be a strong partner for the UN. At the 70th UN General Assembly in September, China's President Xi Jinping reiterated this commitment to the UN and also to the new development agenda.
To support this partnership at the national level, a new United Nations Development Assistance Framework between the UN system and the Government of China will be signed in the coming weeks. The Framework will provide a strategic direction for our cooperation with China in the years to come.
Seventy years later, our aspirations through the United Nations remain as relevant as before. To effectively meet expectations, the UN needs to continue adapting to the changing global context. For a Strong UN that can deliver on its mandate, the full commitment and continued support of its members is critical.
The United Nations, this organization that belongs to all of us, offers the best platform through which, we, the citizens of this world, can pursue our fundamental aspiration of peaceful and sustainable human development. We should continue to work together, each in our own capacity, to strengthen the UN and to reinvigorate the timeless values of the UN Charter in the seven decades to come.
Alain Noudehou, United Nations Resident Coordinator, China
