Video Message
Co-hosted by the United Nations in China and Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS)
Professor Chen Dongxiao, President of Shanghai Institutes for International Studies,
Excellencies, Distinguished Participants,
It is an honour to address you at the closing of this timely and insightful Symposium.
As we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, its founding mission of promoting peace, development, and human dignity is more critical than ever. Your discussions today reaffirm the need for reinvigorated multilateralism, solidarity, and sustainable development to address complex and interconnected challenges.
From the urgent need to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals and close the financing gap, to enhancing climate ambition for COP 30, leveraging AI for good, empowering youth, and strengthening global governance - you have offered clear insights, actionable pathways.
Currently, unsustainable debt servicing costs and a growing financing gap are crippling the ability of many countries to finance and achieve the SDGs. Accelerating investments in the SDGs requires a systemic change that anchored in a comprehensive reform of the international financial architecture.
The Pact for the Future adopted last September, along with key processes such as the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development held in July, and the upcoming COP30 and Second World Summit for Social Development, provides a framework for renewed global cooperation.
Building on the Pact for the Future, the Sevilla Commitment of FFD4 sets out concrete and actionable policies to close the SDG financing gap, address the debt crisis, and reform the International Financial Architecture.
Your contributions here in Shanghai are shaping efforts to strengthen multilateralism and advance the 2030 Agenda.
In closing, I extend my sincere thanks to the United Nations Country Team in China and the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies for co-hosting this important dialogue. Let us seize the momentum of the UN 80th anniversary to build a future of solidarity, sustainability, and shared prosperity for all.
Thank you.