Secretary-General Renews Call to Strengthen Multilateralism Ahead of SCO Summit Challenging Western Order

United Nations

Sphinx News: Ahmed Ali

Invited to the high-level Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, Secretary-General Guterres renewed his call for diplomacy amid an increasingly polarized international landscape.

Convened on Monday, the high-level summit was hosted in Tianjin, China, by the Communist Party and its leader, Xi Jinping. Leaders from across the world attended, including representatives from Belarus, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Egypt, Myanmar, the Maldives, Nepal, Turkey, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

At a time when the geopolitical landscape is shifting—compounded by Western and U.S.-led tariffs under the Trump administration—the summit aimed to strengthen international cooperation among the Global South. “The trend of the times toward peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit has not changed,” said Xi, cautioning that “shadows of the Cold War mentality linger on.” He added that the world faces “a new challenge of turbulence and transformation in global governance,” stressing that advancing the “democratization of international relations” and “adhering to international law” are pivotal.

In his remarks, Secretary-General Guterres urgently called for multilateral cooperation to uphold the rule of law and strengthen diplomacy in a world marked by growing “injustices and divisions.” “Emerging economies are reshaping trade, diplomacy, and development,” he noted, before outlining four key priorities.

First, Guterres stressed the importance of international peace and security, urging member states to address urgent global conflicts. “In Gaza, the scale of death and destruction is horrific – and famine is now ravaging the population,” he warned.

Second, he emphasized the need for sustainable development and finance. Rising inequality, he argued, requires stronger and more effective institutions. Regional efforts, he said, are “not enough” and must be matched by “global reform” for the common good.

Third, the Secretary-General renewed his call for climate action, reminding that G20 countries are responsible for 80% of global emissions. “They must lead this initiative,” he said, urging developed countries to honor their commitments. He invited leaders to present ambitious national climate plans at a Special Event on Climate Action scheduled for September 24.

Finally, Guterres underscored the importance of digital cooperation. The potential of “global AI cooperation,” he said, carries both significant opportunities and risks. He highlighted the “unique convening power of the United Nations” to help drive breakthroughs in AI governance and to promote “innovative voluntary financing options” to strengthen AI capacity, particularly in developing countries.