Published on: 2026-05-18
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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The UN Secretary-General spoke on Monday at the United Nations University in Tokyo at an event dedicated to the 70th anniversary of cooperation between Japan and the UN. António Guterres has visited Japan more than 20 times – both as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and as Secretary-General – and has always encountered “interest in strategic cooperation.”
He thanked the Japanese government for its unwavering support and emphasized that his visit has a special character: “After 20 years of extraordinarily fruitful cooperation, this is, perhaps, one of my last speeches in your country.”
Support for multilateralism
The Secretary-General noted that Japan remains one of the most consistent supporters of the international order based on common rules. He recalled his participation in the remembrance ceremonies in Hiroshima and Nagasaki: “I will never forget the courage and self-assertion of the survivors of the atomic bombings – Hibakusha.”
According to Guterres, the pursuit of a world without nuclear weapons is “deeply embedded in the DNA of Japan and the United Nations.” He also noted Japan’s contribution to global efforts to reduce disaster risks following the destructive earthquake and tsunami of 2011.
The world in conditions of turbulence
The Secretary-General warned that the world is experiencing a period of dangerous instability: growing geopolitical fractures, conflicts, inequality, an accelerating climate crisis and technology, outpacing regulatory mechanisms.
Nevertheless, Guterres expressed confidence that the UN is capable of adapting and remaining a pillar of international cooperation. He recalled key initiatives of recent years – the “Pact for the Future” and the “UN-80” initiative, aimed at modernizing the United Nations.
Reforms in the name of the future
The UN Secretary-General emphasized the necessity of reforming global institutions, including the Security Council, so that they reflect the realities of the 21st century. He also highlighted the UN’s priorities: conflict prevention, climate justice, accelerating the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, regulation of digital technologies, and youth engagement in all these processes.
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