The UN chief stressed that the current global crisis demands unity among nations for a new order.

“I have come to Johannesburg with a simple message: In a fracturing world overwhelmed by crises, there is simply no alternative to cooperation,” Guterres added and called to restore confidence in multilateralism and more solidarity.

“As the global community moves towards multipolarity, we urgently need, and I have been vigorously advocating it, a strengthened and reformed multilateral architecture based on the United Nations Charter and international law,” he stressed.

Guterres stated that today’s global governance structures reflect yesterday’s world, “when colonial powers still ruled many African countries and were not even at the negotiating table.

He listed some of the organization’s initiatives to speed up change in the global system, including promoting the Sustainable Development Goals, a Climate Solidarity Pact in which developed countries provide financial and technical support to help the emerging economies, and an Accelerated Agenda to reduce carbon emissions.

Now more than ever, it is necessary to compromise for the common good with full respect for the UN Charter, international law, universal values, and all human rights: social, cultural, economic, civil, and political, the UN head said.

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