by Xinhua writers Wang Jiangang, Mao Lei
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Upholding multilateralism has been highlighted by many global leaders at the general debate of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly kicked off on Tuesday at the UN headquarters in New York, where world leaders converge to discuss solutions to the pressing challenges facing the global community.
In the middle of multiple crises, including the Ukrainian crisis, a climate emergency and a food shortage, world leaders are raising their voices calling for global cooperation.
Tanzanian Vice President Philip Isdor Mpango called on countries to uphold a caring spirit to ensure the needs and happiness of other peoples and nations and adhere to "the credo of multilateralism and collaboration."
Uganda's Vice President Jessica Alupo called for strengthening international solidarity and cooperation to address common challenges.
Alupo called for revitalizing the United Nations to make it "stronger than ever," adding that "multilateralism is crucial for meeting the common challenges faced by all countries."
Comorian President Azali Assoumani said his country is committed to multilateralism and finding solutions "to the problems of our time."
During Wednesday's general debate, Prince of Monaco Albert II said that the "terrifying" number of conflicts and civil wars today requires strengthening the global peace agenda.
Re-establishing trust between nations and effective, inclusive multilateralism involving young people and women "are the most effective ways to address global crises," he said.
Jose Maria Pereira Neves, president of Cabo Verde, said his country advocates effective, inclusive, preventive and cooperative multilateralism. "A multilateralism that calls for less confrontation between blocs and more cooperation among member states in the construction and delivery of global public goods to all, such as peace and security, human rights and sustainable development."
Talking about the urgency of climate change, Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto called upon UN member states and stakeholders not to waste time, share technologies and jointly usher in a "new paradigm in multilateralism."
"Kenya calls for the strengthening of multilateralism as the only path to peace and security in a prosperous world for all its citizens," said the president.
Hakainde Hichilema, president of Zambia, called for the attainment of a "Pact for the Future" that underwrites a new form of multilateralism where significant challenges are faced together in solidarity within a context of a rules-based international order.
During the first day's general debate, Alberto Fernandez, president of Argentina, underlined that to tackle persistent challenges like war, hunger and inflation, all hostilities now raging must cease, "dialogue must prevail, and peace must be restored."
Speaking about the unilateral approaches of some countries, including the U.S. inclusion of Bolivia on a list of major drug transit and illicit drug producing countries and its "inhumane, criminal" sanctions on Cuba, Bolivian President Luis Alberto Arce Catacora called for the rejection of unilateral sanctions.
"Only through guaranteeing the full validity of the United Nations Charter and through multilateralism" can the fragile international order be reconfigured to be more pluralistic and stronger, Catacora said. ■
