UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations remains the cornerstone of the international order, providing a platform for all member states to engage in dialogue, prevent conflicts and take coordinated action on global challenges, said UN Under-Secretary-General Li Junhua.

In a written interview with Xinhua, Li said the United Nations' central role in promoting peace, security and sustainable development ensures that countries can address crises collectively rather than unilaterally, reducing the risks of conflicts and fostering international stability.

To this day, the UN Charter represents the most fundamental shared commitment of nations to peace, cooperation and collective security, he said. "This challenge remains as pertinent today as it was 80 years ago."

The senior UN official said that as the world continues to grapple with interconnected global challenges, the UN Charter's core principles of sovereign equality and the prohibition of use of force continue to guide efforts to maintain peace, protect human rights, and advance sustainable development through the UN Security Council, the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and other bodies.

Within the development pillar of the United Nations, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) has played a pivotal role in supporting ECOSOC and other bodies in shaping international consensus and agreements on sustainable development, thereby helping to foster greater equity within and among nations, laying a foundation for lasting peace, said the under-secretary-general.

UN DESA brings countries together to work toward common solutions to the world's most pressing challenges in development, while also providing data-driven analysis, forecasts, statistics and capacity development. This helps forge international agreements for development, translate them into action at the country level, and support individual countries in anticipating risks, protecting people in crises and rebuilding faster, he said.

The challenges the international community faces transcend borders and call for stronger multilateralism, solidarity and cooperation, said Li, adding that the purpose of the United Nations and the principles of the UN Charter remain vital to address current and emerging challenges. "History shows that the world became a better place for everyone when countries came together to cooperate and define common agendas," he said.

"As the United Nations marks its 80th anniversary, we are reminded that it remains indispensable as the anchor of global cooperation for peace and sustainable development," he said.

Upholding the authority of the United Nations is essential to maintain global norms, safeguard multilateralism, and tackle transnational threats -- from conflicts to climate change, pandemics and technological risks, said the senior UN official.

Two recent landmark agreements -- the Pact for the Future adopted in September 2024 and the Sevilla Commitment adopted earlier this year -- reaffirm the global commitment to multilateralism, he said.

With the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals deadline fast approaching, the decisions that are made now on investment, priorities and reform will shape development for decades to come, said Li. "This is a pivotal moment to ensure the United Nations remains a trusted, agile partner in addressing today's crises and tomorrow's uncertainties." ■