KUALA LUMPUR: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has welcomed the latest positive developments in trade relations between the United States and China.
Speaking at a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, the UN chief said renewed optimism for a trade deal between the superpowers is encouraging.
Guterres emphasised that current trade restrictions are negatively impacting the global economy, with developing countries suffering the most.
“I am a strong defender of free and fair trade,” he stated during the press conference ahead of the 15th ASEAN-UN Summit.
He added that “trade wars do not benefit anybody, nobody wins in trade wars.”
The secretary-general expressed hope that ongoing trade negotiations would establish a regime where trade facilitates development rather than obstructing it.
US President Donald Trump had earlier expressed optimism for a potential trade deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their meeting in South Korea.
Media reports confirmed positive outcomes from trade negotiations between Chinese and US officials on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit.
Guterres also praised trade and economic cooperation initiatives like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership as positive steps forward.
He stressed that developing countries need stronger representation and decision-making power within the global financial system.
The UN chief called for greater access to debt relief and concessional funding to help developing nations overcome economic challenges.
“I am totally against a world in which superpowers have a dominant role,” Guterres declared.
He concluded that “we need a world in which international law prevails, in which the values of the UN Charter prevail.” – Bernama
