UN and EU vow to strengthen cooperation, advance multilateralism

Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-24 07:08:50|Editor: Li Xia

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UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations and the European Union on Sunday pledged to strengthen cooperation and jointly advance multilateralism.

"At a time of unprecedented and pressing global challenges, the United Nations and the European Union continue to engage together as positive forces for change to promote and renew full commitment to multilateralism and a rules-based global order, in line with their respective mandates, and to work closely for stability and prosperity to promote a safer and better world for all," said the two organizations in a joint press statement.

Strengthened cooperation between the two sides will continue in promoting development, addressing global challenges, preventing conflict and safeguarding peace and security, said the statement, which was released after a meeting of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and EU's foreign and security policy chief Federica Mogherini at UN Headquarters in New York on the margins of this year's UN General Assembly high-level week.

They committed themselves to the implementation of UN reform. The European Union is committed to strengthening and further promoting the multilateral system, with a reformed UN at its core, said the statement.

Partnerships with regional organizations are central to the United Nations' preventive action, and the EU is an indispensable partner of the United Nations, contributing to regional and global peace and security, as well as to sustainable development and human rights, it said.

The leaders further reiterated their determination to seek innovative and forward-looking solutions to global challenges which require collective action, drawing on all parts of society to maintain the global efforts to tackle climate change, and mobilizing private sector investments for sustainable development, with women and youth at the center of all action, said the statement.

Together, the United Nations and the EU will continue to reinforce efforts to prevent conflict. Not least, the two sides will also continue to leverage their respective strengths to support the implementation of the landmark 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its ambitious goals, it said.