UN chief Antonio Guterres has hit out at the US and China, saying the world economy cannot afford to split into two opposing camps. The UN chief spoke at a news conference in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
“We must avoid at all costs the division of the global economy into two led by the two largest economies – the United States and China,” said the UN Secretary-General.
“Such a rift, with two different sets of rules, two major currencies, two internets and two conflicting strategies on artificial intelligence, will undermine the world’s ability to respond to the dramatic challenges we face,” he said. “
Guterres said ASEAN countries are well placed to bridge this divide, stressing that “we must have a global economy and global markets with access for all.”
further, the United Nations talked about the situation in Myanmar, calling it “an endless nightmare for the people of that country, and a threat to peace and security in the entire region.”
“At ASEAN, I condemned the appalling human rights situation in Myanmar and repeatedly called on the country’s authorities to release all political prisoners and begin an inclusive process to return to democratic transition. I urged countries to protect refugees also called for developing a regional framework for he tweeted.
Myanmar’s military seized power in February 2021, and the country has since been engulfed in a political, human rights and humanitarian crisis.
UN chief Said that ASEAN has adopted a principled approach to this issue through its five-point consensus. UN News reported that the war in Ukraine, the global energy and food crisis and the climate emergency were also on the agenda for the day-long summit.
“In these turbulent times, regional organizations, including ASEAN, are essential to creating a global solution,” Guterres told reporters.
The Secretary-General traveled from Egypt to Cambodia, where the COP27 UN Climate Change Conference is underway.
Guterres is calling for a climate solidarity pact for developed and emerging economies to combine resources and capabilities to defeat climate change.
He is also pushing leaders to reach an agreement on a financial mechanism to support countries that suffer loss and damage from climate-related disasters.
The UN chief will next travel to Bali, Indonesia, for the G20 summit starting on Tuesday.
catch all business News, market news, today’s fresh news events and breaking news Update on Live Mint. download mint news app To get daily market updates.