BRICS Can Play a Very Important Role in Global Development and Security: Guterres

UN Secretary Antonio Guterres (C) greets Russian President Vladimir Putin, Oct. 24, 2024. X/ @SalsaConAndrea


October 24, 2024 Hour: 11:59 am

The international financial system is obsolete, ineffective, and unfair, he acknowledged.

On Thursday, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the BRICS countries, which represent almost half of the world’s population, to address major global challenges during the 16th Summit of the economic cooperation bloc.

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“No group or country can act alone or in isolation. A community of nations, working as a global family, is needed to tackle global challenges,” he said and proposed four areas of action.

First, Guterres highlighted the need to reform the international financial system, which is “obsolete, ineffective, and unfair.” He proposed accelerating the implementation of a stimulus for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and increasing the lending capacity of Multilateral Development Banks.

Regarding the global climate crisis, Guterres urged the G20 countries to commit to concrete actions to reduce CO2 emissions during the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), which will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11 to 22.

“Every country has committed to limiting the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius,” he reminded, emphasizing the need for new national plans with targets for 2035.

Third, Guterres advocated for a “Global Digital Compact” to ensure universal access to technological benefits, mentioning the need to establish “the first truly universal agreement on the international governance of Artificial Intelligence.”

Finally, in terms of peace, the UN Secretary called for strengthening and updating peace mechanisms, including reforming the Security Council. He also demanded “an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the unconditional release of all hostages, and the effective delivery of unhindered humanitarian aid.”

“Everywhere, we must uphold the values of the UN Charter, the rule of law, and the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence of all States,” concluded the Secretary-General, stressing the crucial role the BRICS bloc can play in implementing these measures.

The BRICS summit has “charted a course to strengthen multilateralism for global development and security,” Guterres said, urging the BRICS countries to move from words to actions.

teleSUR/ JF Source: teleSUR – EFE