Peace, Development Lies in International Cooperation

Terrorist attacks on New York and Washington in the US had caused a day's delay of the opening ceremony of the 56th UN Assembly scheduled September 11. As reported, a prolonged debate focusing on a sundry of issues is to be held in a two weeks' time at which representatives from 180 countries around the world will expound their stance on global challenges and problems in connection with UN institutional reform to be carried out.

The 56th UN Assembly of the year is being held as the first one ushering in the new century following a Summit called last year, aiming to carry out the Summit's "Millennium Declaration" issued, enhance international cooperation and push forward the cause of world peace and development. "Millennium Declaration" represents not only the common commitments of leaders from various countries attending the Summit to world peace and security but also embodies the new aspirations of the international community in the new century. Hence, how to strengthen international cooperation and translate the "Millennium Declaration" into practice becomes the central theme to be taken up by the ongoing UN Assembly.

It must be pointed out that economic globalization offers opportunity for development, it also brings grave challenge. Since the 21st century began, the danger underlining large-scale war and conflicts has obviously diminished. But conflicts are still being seen on the rise on a regional scale accompanying a recurrence of terrorist activities, endangering world peace and the security of various countries. On the other hand, an unbalanced development of economic globalization has brought about a sharpening of South-North contradictions. By peace and development are meant a thousand and one things to attend and problems relating to challenge and opportunities have become all the more complicated. A solution to these lies in a strengthening of international consultation and cooperation in the way global problems are to be well solved. Only thus can international relations of equality and mutual benefit be developed and a new rational political and economic world order established.

As things stand in present-day world, pressing problems facing the world are connected mainly with world peace, development and security. Arms control, disarmament, peacekeeping, UN institutional reform, economic globalization and prevention of international terrorism will get nowhere when short of a common effort and consultations on an equal footing by the whole international community. This is due to the fact a closer relationship of interdependence and mutual reliance has come to be developed. A strengthening of international consultation and expanded cooperation are needed to counter challenges facing us. No matter how strong a country is it can in no way "shut out the sky with one palm". Unilateralism will solve no problems of a global nature for things will not go the way it wishes.






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