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SINGAPORE: Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said on Saturday (September 26) that COVID-19 has accelerated threats to the multilateral system and urged countries to work together to defeat the pandemic and build resilience in the face of future challenges.
Protectionism and unilateral action will ultimately backfire and, by working together, the international community will have a greater chance of finding solutions to problems such as vaccine development and free trade.
“We need to defeat COVID-19 together … None of us, in nations large or small, will be safe until we are all safe together,” said Dr. Balakrishnan, who delivered Singapore’s national statement at the 75th session. of the United Nations. General Assembly.
“What we need now is more global cooperation, not less,” he added.
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WORKING TOGETHER TO MEET THE CHALLENGES
In his video address, Dr. Balakrishnan also said that it is essential to have a rules-based multilateral system where small states like Singapore can have an equal voice, and that multilateral institutions also provide an avenue for countries to work together to deal with the common challenges facing humanity.
Yet at the same time, the current system is “not perfect” and international institutions must adapt and reform to remain relevant.
“Countries cannot wait to get back to the way things were before COVID-19 hit us, and neither can the multilateral system. We must adapt and we must strengthen our international institutions to remain open, inclusive, transparent and fit for purpose, ”said Dr. Balakrishnan.
This is the first time in the 75-year history of the General Assembly that world leaders have not met in person. Dr Balakrishnan said that the decision to continue High Level Week is practically a testament to Singapore’s commitment to multilateralism and the UN.
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NATIONALISM, XENOPHOBIA
Amid the COVID-19 crisis, Dr. Balakrishnan pointed out that the multilateral system faces issues such as nationalism, xenophobia, the rejection of free trade and global economic integration, as well as the bifurcation of technology and supply chains. Although these threats are not new, he said, the pandemic has accelerated and intensified these pre-existing trends.
Some of these issues may reduce the global pool of knowledge and hamper research and innovation at a time when countries need increased international cooperation to ensure equitable and universal access to COVID-19 vaccines.
Trust among nations will also be eroded if countries fail to meet contractual obligations for the export of critical goods and the movement of people.
“Continued international cooperation is key to overcoming the devastating impact of the pandemic and to rebuilding. We need to build greater trust and we must learn from each other. We must also cooperate to establish safe protocols in order to restart the journey, ”said Dr. Balakrishnan.
International institutions can help with this. The UN, said Dr. Balakrishnan, plays a particularly crucial role as it is indispensable as a universal platform for cooperation.
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ADAPT AND REFORM
At the same time, the UN must also adapt and reform itself to respond effectively to contemporary and future challenges “if it is to remain relevant for the next 75 years,” he said.
UN reform should promote consensus building among member states on emerging issues. It is also necessary to simultaneously revitalize the General Assembly and make a genuine attempt to reform the Security Council, said Dr. Balakrishnan.
Likewise, other multilateral institutions, such as the World Trade Organization, must also reform, he said.
Dr Balakrishnan also referred to the World Health Organization’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak, saying that it may be necessary to review how its processes can be further improved after the pandemic.
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