UNGA president stresses UN role in addressing global challenges

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Global challenges such as climate change, the economic, financial, food and energy crises can only be addressed through a well-functioning multilateral system, Ali Treki, president of the 64th session of the UN General Assembly, said here Wednesday.

"Multilateralism is the way forward to address global common-shared problems and it is also the only way to ensure effective and collective action," Treki told the opening of the general debate of the General Assembly.

As the embodiment of multilateralism, the United Nations is the most legitimate forum for ensuring concerted global action," he said, pledging to work with all 192 member states of the world body to "facilitate consensus on a revitalized General Assembly."

Noting that the world is faced with "multiple crises and enormous challenges," Treki pledged his commitment to work with member states to ensure effective responses to global crises.

"The international community has learned from experience that transnational threats and the multiple crises facing the world today can only be addressed through responsible international cooperation," he said. "We learned also that unilateral actions can only exacerbate conflicts and delay the search for more sustainable solutions."

Treki urged intensified efforts to confront climate change.