UN Secretary-General: "Recovery Needed for People, Planet, and Prosperity in the New Year"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seolgina Cho] Ant?nio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), stated ahead of the New Year 2022 that "moments of hardship are also great opportunities for us to unite in solidarity." He emphasized that amid the deepening global poverty, inequality, conflict, and division caused by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, recovery "for people, the planet, and prosperity" is necessary in the new year.

According to the UN on the 30th, Secretary-General Guterres mentioned in his recently released New Year's address the worsening poverty, increasing inequality, unequal distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, insufficient climate change commitments, ongoing conflicts, and divisions, stating that "if 2022 is made a year of recovery for all," it will be a test that everyone can overcome.

First, regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, he stressed the need for "a clear plan to ensure that everyone, everywhere can be vaccinated." He also mentioned that wealthy countries should support developing countries through finance, investment, and debt relief. To overcome distrust and division, he added that efforts must be based on science, facts, and reason. He did not omit mentioning the necessity of efforts to address climate change.

Secretary-General Guterres argued that the difficulties confirmed worldwide over the past year are also great opportunities for us to unite in solidarity. He said, "Because we can come together through solutions that benefit everyone," and reiterated, "Let us move forward with hope for what humanity can achieve."

Earlier, on the 27th, marking the 'International Day of Epidemic Preparedness,' Secretary-General Guterres called for global unity against COVID-19. He stated, "COVID-19 has shown how quickly an epidemic can sweep across the world, push healthcare systems to the brink, and disrupt the daily lives of all humanity," expressing concern that "COVID-19 is not the end." Additionally, he emphasized that only global solidarity can "give every country a better chance to prevent COVID-19 on their own paths," and that "all countries, including the most vulnerable, must establish systems capable of rapid response."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.