UN chief calls for multipolarity, stronger multilateral cooperation

At his final traditional start-of-the-year news conference on Thursday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres outlined his priorities for 2026, highlighting the importance of multilateral cooperation and referencing China's role in supporting the United Nations.

"(We) need to have multi-level institutions," Guterres told reporters in New York. "China has been consistently advocating for the need for multilateralism and for the UN itself. This was recently reaffirmed by President Xi Jinping."

"If we want a stable world, if we want a world in which peace can be sustained, in which development can be generalized, and in which, in the end, our values will prevail, we need to support multipolarity," Guterres said.

He cited recent trade agreements, including the deals between China and Canada, and China and the UK, describing them as "positive developments."

"So it is this network in trade, this network in technology, this network in international cooperation among a progressively larger group of countries and entities in a true multipolar world that, in my opinion, can create the conditions for strong multilateral institutions and for a world in which the values, that are the values of the Charter of the United Nations, can prevail," he said.

Guterres' remarks come amid ongoing global developments, including the launch of the "Board of Peace", a new international organization aimed at addressing conflicts such as the Gaza situation. Some analysts consider it a parallel mechanism that could potentially compete or undermine the existing UN system. Some major powers, including China and Russia, have not joined the initiative.

In Beijing on Tuesday, Xi reaffirmed China's commitment to uphold the international system with the UN at its core. Xi made the remarks when meeting with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, who is on an official visit to China.

China is willing to "work with Finland to firmly uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law, to jointly respond to global challenges," Xi said, according to Xinhua.

"Global problems will not be solved by one power calling the shots," said Guterres. "Nor will they be solved by two powers carving the world into rival spheres of influence."

"It is important to accelerate, deliberately and with determination, multipolarity — one that is networked, inclusive by design and capable of creating balance through partnership — partnership in trade, in technology and in international cooperation," he said.

The UN Charter was written by "people bloodied and bruised by war", who understood that the values enshrined in our founding documents were not lofty abstractions or idealistic hopes, said Guterres.

Despite all the hurdles, he said, the UN is acting to give life to our shared values. "And we won't give up," he said.