Remarks by the President of the General Assembly

Mr. Philemon Yang

at the Special Event Commemorating the

International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace,

Hosted by the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations

 21 April 2025

Trusteeship Council Chamber

(As delivered by the Chef de Cabinet (CdC) Mr. Ivor Fung)

 

Excellencies,

Distinguished delegates,

Ladies and gentlemen,

 

In just a few days, we will mark the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace.

 

It is a call to defend dialogue over division, diplomacy over destruction, and unity over unilateralism.

 

And it is a moment – to remember and recommit – to the principles of the United Nations Charter, which guided our multilateral efforts for eight decades.

 

Excellencies,

 

Just as it was 80 years ago, we once again face a world of profound division.

 

Conflicts are escalating. International law is being tested. The very principles of multilateralism are under strain.

 

Tension and mistrust among states are on the rise. Military expenditures have increase exponentially.

 

But let us remember: multilateralism has never been easy.

 

It was not easy in 1945, when it emerged from the ruins of war and deep mistrust.

 

It was not easy during decades of Cold War tension, competition and arms race.

 

And it is not easy today, as the world undergoes rapid transformations.

 

Through it all, multilateralism has been – and remains – our best hope for peace and prosperity for everyone.

 

That is why it cannot be stagnant or inflexible; diplomacy must evolve to meet today’s realities.

 

The Pact for the Future, adopted at the Summit of the Future, is our roadmap for this renewal.

  • It strengthens diplomacy to prevent conflict.
  • It reaffirms the rule of law over the rule of force.
  • It calls for results that restore trust.
  • And it places the UN Charter back at the heart of global cooperation.

 

  • But a roadmap is only useful if we follow it. And the Pact is only meaningful if we implement it.

As President of the General Assembly, I am committed to that implementation, and I have already launched a series of dialogues to specifically advance this effort.

 

Excellencies,

 

The real test of multilateralism is not in the halls of the United Nations. It is in the decisions we make and the actions we take.

 

People must see that multilateralism delivers – not just for the powerful, but for all.

 

That means:

  • Reforming the international financial system, so developing countries have a real seat at the table.
  • Meeting climate commitments, so vulnerable nations are not left behind.
  • Advancing disarmament, so peace is not just a vision, but a reality.

 And most of all, it means living up to and upholding the principles of the UN Charter.

 

Because peace without principles is fragile. And diplomacy without rules is meaningless.

 

As we approach 24 April, let us not only commemorate multilateralism. Let us strengthen it.

 

Let us show that global cooperation still matters. That it can still deliver. That in times of crisis, we choose unity over division.

 

Let us prove that multilateralism works – when we choose to make it work.

 

I thank you.

***

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Media Contacts

 

Sharon Birch, Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly, Tel: +1 212 963 0564, M: +1 646 342 5873, Email: birchs@un.org

Dr. Mariam Shaikh, Adviser/ Social and Digital Media/Media Relations, M: +1 917 361 4990, Email: mariam.shaikh@un.org

 

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