New Delhi, Sept. 14 (SANA) United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for an overhaul of global institutions built around the realities of 1945, saying the shift toward a multipolar world must be matched by reforms giving developing countries greater representation and influence.
Addressing the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Sunday, Guterres said economic, demographic and geopolitical realities had fundamentally changed, arguing that global institutions needed to reflect the world of today. The need for multilateral institutions to reflect 21st-century realities was also among the priorities discussed during his visit to New Delhi.
He said the world was increasingly moving toward a multipolar order and that such a shift could bring greater balance and equity to global systems and institutions.
Guterres pointed in particular to the UN Security Council and the Bretton Woods financial system, calling for reforms to make them more representative of current global realities.
He outlined four priorities for what he described as inclusive global growth: development financing, technology, climate justice and peace.
On development financing, Guterres said developing countries needed greater international support to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, calling for reforms to the international financial architecture that would give them greater participation and influence in decision-making.
He also called for a stronger role for multilateral development banks, expanded concessional financing for developing countries, a development-focused debt architecture and more effective mechanisms to ease debt burdens.
On artificial intelligence, Guterres warned that its benefits and power remained concentrated in a small number of companies and countries, saying an unchecked AI divide risked widening inequalities in income, opportunity, security and sovereignty.
Turning to climate change, he warned of worsening heat, glacier melt, wildfires and floods, urging developed countries to honor their climate-finance commitments and increase support for adaptation and loss and damage.
On peace and security, Guterres pointed to Gaza, the wider Middle East, Ukraine and Sudan, calling on countries to uphold the UN Charter, including the principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
The 18th BRICS Summit was held in New Delhi on Sept. 12 and 13 with the participation of 11 countries, focusing on strengthening political, economic and financial cooperation, supporting development and reforming global governance.
BRICS comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.
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