The Summit of the Future that wrapped at the United Nations headquarters in New York was a pivotal event aimed at addressing critical global challenges and reshaping the multilateral system to better respond to modern threats. The summit’s goal was to revitalize cooperation in areas like peace, sustainable development, and global governance, all with an eye toward modernizing the systems we rely on.

CGTN’s special coverage of the summit featured a number of high-profile guests and experts, each offering insights into the event’s significance.

Guy Bernard Ryder, the UN’s Under-Secretary-General for Policy, emphasized how outdated global institutions have become, reminding us that multilateralism is still the best way to address global conflicts and divisions.

Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN Habitat, brought up the issue of rapid urbanization, especially in Africa, where cities are growing fast. She talked about the challenges of managing urban sprawl and housing shortages.

We also heard from Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, Deputy Executive Director of UN Women, who focused on the persistent issue of gender inequality. She pointed out that poverty and lack of infrastructure are making things worse for women and girls and called for more investment in education and the care sector to change that.

David Passarelli, Director of the UN University Centre for Policy Research, discussed the importance of building broad global coalitions and called for reforms in the UN. He emphasized the need for fair access to new technologies across all nations.

CGTN's program also featured a panel of experts, including Einar Tangen, Senior Fellow at the Taihe Institute, who highlighted China’s approach to global issues through cooperation and consensus.

David Monyae, Director of the Centre for Africa-China Studies, emphasized the need for Africa to have greater representation at the UN. He called for a more equal partnership in global governance and stressed the importance of respecting local cultures rather than imposing Western models.

Jorge Heine, former Chilean ambassador to China, pointed out that Latin America lacks representation on the Security Council. He advocated for reform to better reflect today’s world and also discussed the importance of regulating emerging technologies.

Overall, the Summit of the Future proved to be a critical juncture for reimagining the multilateral system, ensuring global cooperation, and addressing urgent global issues.

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