Video Message
Co-hosted by the United Nations in China and the Teochew International Federation
Chaozhou, Guangzhou Province, China
Excellencies,
Distinguished guests,
Dear friends,
It is a pleasure to join you by video today to commemorate the UN’s 80th anniversary.
At the outset, I would like to thank the United Nations in China and the Teochew International Federation for co-hosting this celebration.
Eight decades ago, the United Nations was created with a clear and bold mission: peace, development, and dignity for all.
Now we face new defining challenges, including rising geopolitical tensions, a triple planetary crisis, widening inequalities and rapid technological change.
The message is clear: the mission of the United Nations is as critical today as it was eighty years ago. Our shared response will define our common future.
This anniversary is therefore not only a moment to look back, but to look ahead.
The Pact for the Future, adopted at the Summit of the Future, is our roadmap for effective multilateralism and for rescuing the Sustainable Development Goals. Its impact depends on implementation – on solutions that change people’s lives, especially for those at risk of being left behind.
That is why today’s gathering matters.
Teochew history has been shaped by openness, migration and entrepreneurship. Around the world, Teochew communities have built bridges across cultures and economies, while maintaining strong ties with their roots. Those qualities are vital for sustainable development today.
I welcome the engagement of the Chinese authorities, the private sector, academia and overseas Teochew networks. Working together, you can advance green, inclusive growth, innovation, and opportunities for women and youth, in China and beyond.
As we mark 80 years of the United Nations, let us deepen cooperation, accelerate action on the SDGs, and build a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable future for all.
I thank you.