UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Tuesday that multilateralism is under fire when the world needs it most.
"Our world is suffering from a bad case of trust deficit disorder," Guterres told world leaders gathered for this year's high-level General Debate of the General Assembly. "And multilateralism is under fire precisely when we need it most."
Individual leaders have the duty to advance the well-being of their people, he said, urging leaders to promote and support a reformed, reinvigorated and strengthened multilateral system.
"We need commitments to a rules-based order, with the United Nations at its center and with the different institutions and treaties that bring the (UN) Charter to life," he added.
In the face of massive, existential threats to people and the planet, there is no way forward but collective, common-sense action for the common good, he said. "This is how we can rebuild trust."
