UNITED NATIONS, March 19 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday said that it is the time to dismantle trade barriers and re-establish supply chains while the humanity is fighting with its common enemy of COVID-19.
"We must refrain from the temptation of resorting to protectionism. This is the time to dismantle trade barriers and re-establish supply chains," the UN chief said at a press conference via video-link while all UN staff are required to telecommute so as to mitigate the spread of the virus at UN headquarters in New York.
"Our world faces a common enemy. We are at war with a virus," said the secretary-general.
"COVID-19 is killing people, as well as attacking the real economy at its core - trade, supply chains, businesses, jobs. Entire countries and cities are in lockdown," Guterres said.
"Borders are closing. Companies are struggling to stay in business and families are simply struggling to stay afloat. In managing this crisis, we also have a unique opportunity," said the UN chief.
"Done right, we can steer the recovery toward a more sustainable and inclusive path. But poorly coordinated policies risk locking in -- or even worsening -- already unsustainable inequalities, reversing hard-won development gains and poverty reduction," he said.
