UN Chief Deplores Lack Of Multilateral Solutions On 75th Anniversary

"The world requires increasing multilateral assistance and cooperation", he said.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' appeal for a revival of multilateralism - the foundation of the United Nations - was echoed by leaders of countries large and small, rich and poor.

On its own website to mark the anniversary, the United Nations said the event was taking place at a "time of great disruption for the world, compounded by an unprecedented global health crisis with severe economic and social impacts".

In an apparent swipe at the United States, China's President Xi Jinping said on Monday: "No country has the right to dominate global affairs, control the destiny of others, or keep advantages in development all to itself".

He said the United Nations should promote worldwide cooperation and lead efforts to solve various problems in the world.

U.S. President Donald Trump's speech will be the main focus of a "fairly boring" general debate, according to United Nations expert Richard Gowan from the think tank Crisis group.

"The United Nations has for too always been resistant to meaningful reform, too often lacking in transparency, and too vulnerable to the agenda of autocratic regimes and dictatorships", she said.

The world's great powers should respect worldwide law and avoid double standards, Chinese leader Xi Jinping told a United Nations meeting on Monday.

In a sign of his views on the matter, Trump did not bother to send remarks, and the United States was instead represented by its deputy UN envoy, who said it was "the right time to ask questions about the institution's strengths and weaknesses".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that The United Nations faced a "crisis of confidence without comprehensive reforms", and added that the world required a reformed multilateralism that bespeaks the realities of today, gives voice to all stakeholders and engages with contemporary challenges.

"Our shared home is in disarray".

The Security Council took months to back a call by Guterres for a global ceasefire - to allow countries to focus on fighting COVID-19 - due to bickering between China and the United States.

Guyana's President Irfaan Mohamed Ali, the head of what's called the Group of 77 and China - the main United Nations bloc of developing countries that now has 134 member states - said the commemoration "must send a strong and positive signal to the peoples of the world of our commitment to multilateralism and our resolve to strive for peace, justice and development". "No one wants a world government - but we must work together to improve world governance".

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged the United Nations to carry out reforms, saying the body can not now prevent or end conflicts.

On Tuesday, the annual General Assembly opens, with leaders set to deliver broader speeches but virtually. India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador TS Tirumurti introduced Prime Minister Modi's pre-recorded statement from the UN General Assembly Hall. "We commit to instill new life in the discussions on the reform of the Security Council and continue the work to revitalise the General Assembly and strengthen the Economic and Social Council", PM Modi said.

In the Declaration, the Heads of State and Government had reaffirmed their commitment to leave no one behind, preserve the planet, promote peace and prevent conflicts, abide by global law and ensure justice, place women and girls at the center, build trust, improve digital cooperation, upgrade the United Nations, among other issues.

"All this calls for greater action, not less", the statement said.

How major USA stock indexes fared Monday
At least one more cycle of the virus is expected in the fall and winter, the U.S.'s former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said. The Nasdaq appears to have moved lower after surging in August which now puts most of the indices in lockstep for the year.