Obama proclaims America's "new era of engagement with the world" at UN

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday said that the United States has re-engaged the United Nations by paying the dues and joining the Human Rights Council.

U.S. President Barack Obama addresses the 64th United Nations General Assembly, at the U.N. headquarters in New York, September 23, 2009. Obama on Wednesday promised a new era of U.S. engagement with the world, saying that only by acting together can mankind overcome pressing global challenges.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

"This body was founded on the belief that the nations of the world could solve their problems together," Obama said in addressing the general debate of the General Assembly, which opened here on Wednesday.

"But make no mistake: this cannot be solely America's endeavor. Those who used to chastise America for acting alone in the world cannot now stand by and wait for America to solve the world's problems alone," he warned.

Proclaiming a "new era of engagement with the world," Obama urged for a "share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges."

Obama, making a policy shift from the unilateralism practised by the previous administration of George W. Bush since the first black president took office early this year, embraced the multilateralism and warmed up relations with the 192-member world body.

Echoing throughout Obama's speech was his call for a "cooperative effort" from all nations in combating the world's challenges, which he named as the "four pillars-" non-proliferation and disarmament, peace and security, the preservation of our planet and a global economy.