Global forum calls for efforts to fight pandemic, marks UN anniversary

The worldwide challenges posed by the novel coronavirus pandemic highlight the importance of global cooperation and reinforce the role of the United Nations as a cornerstone of multilateralism to address common problems, even as the rise of unilateralism in recent years has triggered a crisis of confidence in the international system, according to experts.

The COVID-19 outbreak presents an opportunity to re-recognize and reflect on multilateralism, enhancing it collectively to achieve global sustainable development goals, an international forum of leading analysts heard on Wednesday.

The online event, presented by the Beijing-based Center for China and Globalization leading think tank, was held to mark the 75th anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter. The forum was organized with other major think tanks from Germany, Russia and the United Kingdom.

The pandemic is a stark reminder of the need for global cooperation across borders. Countries' responses will determine how fast the world recovers and how well it handles pressing challenges, forum analysts said.

“The international community should have become much closer, but unfortunately, the rise of unilateralism has deepened division across the world in past years,” said former French prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, who gave the keynote speech.

Raffarin said a rising trend of unilateralism, isolationism and protectionism has been reinforced during the COVID-19 outbreak, threatening the effectiveness of the global fight against the pandemic. He emphasized that the UN still stands as the largest international multilateral platform today.

Sha Zukang, a former UN undersecretary-general for economic and social affairs, said the UN still plays a vital role in safeguarding multilateralism globally.

“The world economy is interconnected. China's growth will help Asia and even Europe's growth, and the development of North America and Europe will also benefit the growth of emerging markets and developing countries,” Sha said.

Wang Huiyao, president of the Center for China and Globalization and the forum's moderator, said the founding of the UN 75 years ago raised hopes for a new era of peace and prosperity for all, and the organization has become the cornerstone of today's multilateral structures that work to manage and reduce shared global problems.

Speakers at the forum said China, which was among the first countries to sign the UN Charter in 1945 and has upheld the spirit of strengthening international cooperation, is a long-standing builder of world peace, a contributor to global development and a defender of international order.

During the pandemic, China has continued to strengthen cooperation with other countries, reinforcing the multilateral cooperation system by sending medical personnel and supplies to countries in need and serving global interests through its research on COVID-19.

Nicholas Rosellini, the resident coordinator of UN China, said the pandemic is the biggest challenge facing humanity since World War II. To fight it, he said, the world must reaffirm the principles of the UN charter, strengthen trust and cooperation and guide the world toward fulfilling the goals of achieving sustainable development.