The UN Secretary General spoke at the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Astana. UN Secretary General to SCO summit participants: it is necessary to overcome geopolitical differences Peace and Security
Humanity needs a unified global economy, a global market, a global Internet, as well as a single set of rules for the use of new technologies, especially artificial intelligence. This was stated by the UN Secretary General, speaking on Thursday in Astana at the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
Difficult global conditions
The UN Secretary General expressed concern that geopolitical differences do not allow the international community to effectively solve pressing problems that affect everyone. In particular, he highlighted two existential threats – climate change and the development of digital technologies.
“We are facing difficult global conditions. Raging wars. Geopolitical disagreements. Epidemic of impunity. Departure from the Sustainable Development Goals. Cynicism and crisis of confidence. People are losing faith in multilateralism,” he said, citing broken promises, double standards and growing inequality. Countries can solve these global problems only by joining forces, Guterres is convinced.
Shanghai Cooperation Organization
It was no coincidence that the UN head raised these issues at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. The total population of the SCO countries is approximately 3.5 billion people. This is the largest regional organization in the world, Guterres noted.
The SCO was founded in 2001 by the leaders of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, and later India, Pakistan and Iran joined it.
The main goal is peace
“The time has come to reaffirm our shared commitment to multilateralism , at the center of which is the United Nations, bound by the principles set out in the UN Charter, international law and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The central goal of our multilateral system must be peace – a precondition for sustainable development and the implementation of human rights,” he emphasized, speaking to the leaders of the SCO.
Peace in the Middle East and Ukraine
He stressed that today peace is needed throughout the Middle East – a ceasefire in Gaza and the immediate and unconditional release of all Israeli hostages captured on October 7.
According to the Secretary General, in Ukraine it is necessary to establish peace “based on the UN Charter and international law.” He called for peace for other countries: from Sudan to the Sahel, from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Somalia, from Myanmar to Haiti and Afghanistan.
Two existential threats
The UN Secretary-General called for action on the “climate emergency”, including cutting emissions to keep warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. According to Guterres, countries must take decisive steps in this direction before the UN Climate Conference (COP-29).
The second existential threat, as the UN chief noted, comes from digital technologies. Artificial intelligence has enormous potential to accelerate sustainable development for the benefit of all.
But today, technology advances are outpacing efforts to gain control over this process. Thus, the UN chief believes, the imbalance of power is worsening, human rights are being undermined, tensions and divisions are increasing.
“We urgently need the full participation of governments working with technology companies, academia and civil society to agree on a framework for managing the risks associated with AI, as well as ensuring the monitoring and implementation of measures to mitigate harm,” Guterres warned, recalling the UN’s work in this direction.
Future Summit
The Future Summit, which will be held in New York in September, according to the UN Secretary-General, will provide an opportunity to renew efforts to overcome the common problems facing humanity. As Guterres said, among other things, the summit will address issues of changing the global financial architecture and reform of the UN Security Council, which “will help prevent and resolve conflicts, balance geopolitical relations and give developing countries a proportionate voice on the world stage.”
“I look forward to welcoming you to New York in September,” the UN chief concluded his speech.
Tour of Central Asian countries
On the sidelines of the SCO summit, the UN Secretary General held a number of bilateral meetings on Thursday, including with the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko. During the meeting, Guterres stated the need to end the war in Ukraine based on the principles of the UN Charter, international law and respect for territorial integrity.
The UN Secretary-General also expressed concern about the situation with human rights in Belarus. He noted that the amnesty announced in Belarus the day before is a step towards full respect for human rights and ensuring fundamental freedoms in this country.
Today the head of the UN ends his two-day visit to Kazakhstan and heads to Tajikistan. Earlier, as part of this trip, we recall that Guterres visited Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.