UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks to reporters at the UN headquarters in New York, on Feb. 14, 2023.(Xinhua/Xie E)
"Competition between states is inevitable. But that should not rule out cooperation where shared interests and the greater good are at stake," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.
UNITED NATIONS, April 24 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday that competition between states should not rule out cooperation.
The world faces unprecedented and interlocking crises. Yet the multilateral system is under greater strain than at any time since the creation of the United Nations. Tensions between major powers are at a historic high, so are the risks of conflict, Guterres told a UN Security Council open debate on multilateralism.
"Competition between states is inevitable. But that should not rule out cooperation where shared interests and the greater good are at stake," he said.
When competition escalates to confrontation, the multilateral system, founded on the UN Charter and international law, is the most effective means to manage disputes peacefully, he noted.
"We must cooperate. We must adapt multilateral institutions and foster trust where it is most needed. The urgency of global challenges demands bold and swift action," said Guterres.
The United Nations was created for crises. Throughout its history, the world body has overcome seemingly intractable conflicts and deep divisions, he said. "We must find a way forward and act now, as we have done before, to stop the slide toward chaos and conflict. It is time to deepen cooperation and to strengthen multilateral institutions, to find common solutions to common challenges."
Members of the Security Council, particularly the permanent ones, have a particular responsibility to make multilateralism work, rather than contribute to its dismemberment, said the UN chief. ■