China plays key role in upholding multilateralism, climate agenda: UN official

China plays a vital role in upholding multilateralism and supporting the developing nations and the climate action agenda, a United Nations official said in Munich, Germany on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference (MSC).

Jorge Moreira Da Silva, executive director of the UN Office for Project Services, hailed China's role in advancing multiple UN agendas.

"China has been playing a very important role on multilateralism, not only on development, but on multilateralism. We could witness in the last few years a clear commitment from China in supporting the 2030 agenda, in supporting climate action agenda, in supporting the peace and security agenda, in supporting the socio-development agenda. This is important because China plays a very an important role globally. So, having the commitment from China in this global agenda is crucial. But China is also playing a very important role in the support to developing countries, namely in Africa, particularly aligning better the development agenda with the climate agenda," he said.

He also applauded China for its pivotal role in driving the green revolution worldwide.

"The green revolution is not only an opportunity to address climate change. It's also an opportunity to create jobs, companies, prosperity in developing countries. And I think that China being a leader on electrical mobility, on renewable energy, is also a good way to show that aligning the innovation, the entrepreneurial spirit on green technology, [and] is also a good incentive for development cooperation and particularly to implement the Sustainable Development Goals globally. Not supporting the easiest, but the supporting the neediest. So, we need the states, the governments, the international community to commit in this agenda. And in my conversations with China, I noticed that clearly there is a commitment in supporting this context," said the official.

The 62nd MSC will address topics including European security and defense, the future of transatlantic ties, the revival of multilateralism, various visions for global order, regional conflicts, and the security effects of technological advancements.

China plays key role in upholding multilateralism, climate agenda: UN official

Hailing the African Union (AU) as a flagship for multilateralism, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Saturday that the absence of permanent African seats in the UN Security Council is indefensible.

Addressing the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU, which opened Saturday at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, the UN chief said "In a world filled with division and mistrust, the African Union is a flagship for multilateralism. My gratitude runs deep. I will carry with me always the unwavering, decisive support of the African Group in the UN on issue after issue, initiative after initiative, in the shared struggle for justice and equality."

Guterres recalled the cooperation between the UN and the AU over the years.

"Over the last decade, our cooperation has reached new heights. Joint frameworks on peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights. Collaboration during COVID-19. Important new partnerships. And the landmark adoption of Security Council Resolution 2719, creating a pathway for predictable funding for AU-led peace support operations," he said.

"The absence of permanent African seats in the Security Council is indefensible. This is 2026, not 1946. Whatever decisions about Africa and the world are on the table, Africa must be at the table," he stressed.

The two-day AU summit, which brings together leaders from AU members, is held under the theme "Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063."

Absence of permanent African seats in Security Council indefensible: UN chief