Mandatory credit: UNTV/News use only
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on leaders to reaffirm their commitment to 'multilateralism' to achieve global peace, warning the world was beginning to 'lose faith' amid 'broken promises' and 'double standards' while speaking at a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Astana on Thursday.
"These global challenges cannot be solved by a country-by-country basis. This is the moment to reaffirm our common commitment to multilateralism with the United Nations at its centre, bound by the principles set out in the UN Charter," Guterres said.
"The central goal of our multilateral system must be peace, a precondition for sustainable development and the enjoyment of human rights," he added.
"We need peace across the Middle East," the UN head continued. "Starting with an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, ending the bloodshed, but also the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages."
Addressing climate change, Guterres called on governments to place 'solidarity levies' on carbon-emitting sectors such as shipping, aviation and fossil fuel extraction.
He also warned of the potential danger posed by artificial intelligence, arguing the technology is 'racing ahead of regulation' and "further concentrating wealth, undermining human rights and increasing tensions and divisions."
"We urgently need the full engagement of governments working with tech companies, academics and civil society to agree on risk management frameworks for AI and on monitoring and mitigating their harms," Guterres concluded.
The 24th SCO Heads of State Council meeting chaired by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is held in Astana on July 3-4.
Leaders are discussing the outcomes of the SCO's activities for 2023-2024 and exploring cooperation in political, security, economic and humanitarian affairs.
After the summit in Kazakhstan, the organisation's presidency will pass to China for 2024-2025.
The organisation comprises India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan - and now Belarus - as well as 14 dialogue partners and two observer countries.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on leaders to reaffirm their commitment to 'multilateralism' to achieve global peace, warning the world was beginning to 'lose faith' amid 'broken promises' and 'double standards' while speaking at a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Astana on Thursday.
"These global challenges cannot be solved by a country-by-country basis. This is the moment to reaffirm our common commitment to multilateralism with the United Nations at its centre, bound by the principles set out in the UN Charter," Guterres said.
"The central goal of our multilateral system must be peace, a precondition for sustainable development and the enjoyment of human rights," he added.
"We need peace across the Middle East," the UN head continued. "Starting with an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, ending the bloodshed, but also the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages."
Addressing climate change, Guterres called on governments to place 'solidarity levies' on carbon-emitting sectors such as shipping, aviation and fossil fuel extraction.
He also warned of the potential danger posed by artificial intelligence, arguing the technology is 'racing ahead of regulation' and "further concentrating wealth, undermining human rights and increasing tensions and divisions."
"We urgently need the full engagement of governments working with tech companies, academics and civil society to agree on risk management frameworks for AI and on monitoring and mitigating their harms," Guterres concluded.
The 24th SCO Heads of State Council meeting chaired by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is held in Astana on July 3-4.
Leaders are discussing the outcomes of the SCO's activities for 2023-2024 and exploring cooperation in political, security, economic and humanitarian affairs.
After the summit in Kazakhstan, the organisation's presidency will pass to China for 2024-2025.
The organisation comprises India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan - and now Belarus - as well as 14 dialogue partners and two observer countries.
Mandatory credit: UNTV/News use only
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on leaders to reaffirm their commitment to 'multilateralism' to achieve global peace, warning the world was beginning to 'lose faith' amid 'broken promises' and 'double standards' while speaking at a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Astana on Thursday.
"These global challenges cannot be solved by a country-by-country basis. This is the moment to reaffirm our common commitment to multilateralism with the United Nations at its centre, bound by the principles set out in the UN Charter," Guterres said.
"The central goal of our multilateral system must be peace, a precondition for sustainable development and the enjoyment of human rights," he added.
"We need peace across the Middle East," the UN head continued. "Starting with an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, ending the bloodshed, but also the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages."
Addressing climate change, Guterres called on governments to place 'solidarity levies' on carbon-emitting sectors such as shipping, aviation and fossil fuel extraction.
He also warned of the potential danger posed by artificial intelligence, arguing the technology is 'racing ahead of regulation' and "further concentrating wealth, undermining human rights and increasing tensions and divisions."
"We urgently need the full engagement of governments working with tech companies, academics and civil society to agree on risk management frameworks for AI and on monitoring and mitigating their harms," Guterres concluded.
The 24th SCO Heads of State Council meeting chaired by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is held in Astana on July 3-4.
Leaders are discussing the outcomes of the SCO's activities for 2023-2024 and exploring cooperation in political, security, economic and humanitarian affairs.
After the summit in Kazakhstan, the organisation's presidency will pass to China for 2024-2025.
The organisation comprises India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan - and now Belarus - as well as 14 dialogue partners and two observer countries.