The United Nations expects China to be at the forefront of efforts to tackle the world’s biggest challenges, such as climate change.
The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
has called on China to lead the way when it comes to global issues such as food crisis, climate change and the quest to slash poverty.
The Secretary-General was addressing students at the Foreign Affairs University in Beijing, when he said China is already playing an important role as a permanent member of the Security Council and as a growing contributor to peacekeeping and the UN budget.
“China will need to rise even higher in both rankings if we are to meet growing global challenges,” Mr. Ban said. “Today, the entire United Nations system expects China to help lead on the international agenda.”
Unless swift and united action is taken;the threats posed by the food crisis, global warming and soaring energy prices could jeopardize the entire international order.
“Every country stands to lose from such an unravelling. But leading nations, like China, that have most at stake in the international system stand to lose the most.
“A global economic slowdown would affect this country’s manufacturing base. Continued climate change could deprive millions more of their homes. The global food crisis could result in grain shortages and social unrest.”
“The United Nations is the natural forum for mounting this response. Our Organization provides a multilateral platform for implementing concrete actions on all fronts.”
World leaders, including those in China, must take urgent steps on the food crisis, such as providing immediate food assistance to those in need and by removing export restrictions and levies on food commodities.
Chinese business also has a critical role to play in devising and producing clean technology and renewable sources of energy that can be used to deal with climate change.
The
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are a series of anti-poverty targets which world leaders have agreed to try to achieve by 2015, and China is well placed to make a difference, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, which is struggling the most to meet the Goals.
“You are well on your way to becoming Africa’s largest trading partner. And you are lending support to African nations in areas as diverse as infrastructure development, agriculture, commercial exchanges and education and training.
“If this spirit of China-Africa cooperation is brought to bear on other challenges – such as food security and fighting HIV/AIDS – China can help propel Africa towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals, in full and on time.”
UN Expects China To Help Lead Way
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