The United Nations (UN) marked its 80th anniversary with a high-level celebration in Beijing on Friday, with the participants calling for renewed global unity amid mounting challenges.
The event brought together over 200 guests including senior representatives from UN agencies, the Chinese foreign ministry, ambassadors to China, experts and scholars.
Amid the melodious strains of classical piano masterpieces and the elegant movements of Chinese dance, UN agency representatives in China raised their glasses with Chinese and international guests present, toasting to the 80th anniversary of the UN.
United Nations Day commemorates the 1945 enactment of the UN Charter. On October 31, 1947, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution officially designating October 24 as United Nations Day.
Participants at the celebration in Beijing called on nations to pursue shared development and build a better future through partnerships.
In his video message to the event, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reflected on the UN's eight-decade legacy of forging peace, advancing human rights, and tackling global challenges.
"The United Nations is more than an institution, it is a living promise spanning borders, bridging continents, inspiring generations. As we look ahead, we confront challenges of staggering scale and threats to the very fabric of our institution. This is no time for timidity or retreats. Now more than ever, the world must recommit to solving problems no nation can solve alone," he said.
Ban Ki-moon, the eighth UN Secretary-General from 2007 to 2016, called for unity in his speech to the event.
"On this United Nations Day, let us return to that solemn promise made on October 24, 1945. Let us choose partnership over polarity, faith over fear, and solidarity over self-interest. Let us remember that our strength is not in our differences but rooted in our unity," he said.
UN marks 80th anniversary in Beijing, calling for global unity amid challenges
