Global Partnerships

Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump withe Chinese Vice Premier Liu He. Source: The While House.

US-China Trade Deal – The Show Isn't Over Yet

Viewpoint by Manish Uprety F.R.A.S. and Dr. Yiyong Liang*

NEW DELHI | BEIJING (IDN) – Trade wars are fascinating where not only the outcomes but also the tactics and strategy matter. Sun Tzu said: “All men can see these tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved.”

The world was waiting with a baited breath for easing out of tensions between the U.S. and China during the meeting of President Donald Trump with Vice Premier Liu He. The ongoing China-U.S. trade war resulted in profound consequences including contributing to conditions pushing the entire global economy to the edge of a possible recession in 2020. The accompanying contortions including contradictory reports and veiled criticisms alongside high rhetoric from both sides was not of much help either.

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 17 January 2020

Photo: UN General Assembly President Tijjani Muhammad-Bande meets cadets participating in a military and peacekeeping training programme at Khawla bint Al Azwar Military Academy for Women in Abu Dhabi. Credit: UN

SDGs Lead UN General Assembly President’s 2020 Priorities

By Santo D. Banerjee

NEW YORK (IDN) – “International peace and security is key to achieving the SDGs, as no development can happen in the absence of peace”, said the President of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande from Nigeria, setting out on January 13 his 2020 priorities, which aim to make the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) a reality by the start of the next decade. These encompass peace and security, quality education, zero hunger, climate action, poverty eradication, and inclusion, he emphasised.

: Santo D. Banerjee; UN INSIDER; 13 January 2020

An Ambitious Global Effort to Deliver The 2030 Promise

By J Nastranis

Note: We are a member of the SDG Media Compact. This article is based on UN SDG Media Compact Editorial – 2020 Special Edition.

NEW YORK (IDN) – With just ten years to go, an ambitious global effort is being kicked off to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, which constitute the world’s blueprint for fair globalization by mobilizing all governments, civil society and businesses to help achieve the Global Goals.

: J Nastranis; UN INSIDER; 13 January 2020

Photo: A 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck Albania the morning of 26 November 2019, killing 51 people. Credit: UNDP

Rebuilding Albania After The 6.4 Magnitude Earthquake

By UN Development Programme

TIRANA (IDN-INPS) – A mother of three was found under the rubble hugging her three children. A 24-year-old student’s dream of becoming a dermatologist was cut short.

A family of eight was found under their collapsed four-storey concrete home. The youngest was two. There was only one survivor from that family — a 17- year-old boy, frozen with shock and unable to utter a word.

A 33-year-old had promised her husband, who passed away two years ago, that their daughter would follow his footsteps and become a painter; they both died.

: UN Bureau; THE WORLD; EU & Europe; 08 January 2020

Photo: People living along the Kenya-Uganda border are amongst the poorest in the region. Credit: WFP.

Kenya and Uganda Partner With the UN to Achieve SDGs

By Siddharth Chatterjee and Rosa Malango

UN Resident Coordinators in Kenya and Uganda, Siddharth Chatterjee and Rosa Malango respectively report in a blog how the two East African neighbours have kick-started a Decade of Action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by partnering with the UN to address challenges that transcend country borders. The UN Resident Coordinator (RC) is the highest-ranking representative of the UN development system at the country level. In this first of occasional series, UN News is inviting RCs to blog on issues important to the United Nations and the country where they serve. UN News carried this blog on 1 January 2020.

: UN Bureau; THE WORLD; Africa; 02 January 2020

Photo: The outgoing ACP Secretary General Dr. Patrick Gomez confers with President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya during the presentation of the revised Georgetown agreement. Credit: ACP

Nairobi Summit Leads to 'A Transformed ACP Committed to Multilateralism'

By Robert Johnson

BRUSSELS (IDN) – The heads of government and state of African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States have taken a decisive step towards “A Transformed ACP Committed to Multilateralism”. At their 9th Summit, they have revised the constitutive act, the 1975 Georgetown Agreement.

An important outcome of the December 9-10 Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, is a name change from the ACP Group of States to the Organisation of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (OACPS).

: Robert Johnson; GLOBAL GOVERNANCE; ACP Group of States; 23 December 2019

Photo: Group photo of leaders (left to right) of South Africa, India, China, Russia and Brazil at 2019 BRICS summit in Brasilia. CC BY 2.0

BRICS States Reiterate Commitment to Multilateralism and Urge UN Reform

By J Nastranis

NEW YORK | BRASILIA (IDN) – Leaders of BRICS states comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa have called for strengthening and reforming the multilateral system, including the United Nations, the World Trade Organization (WTO), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other international organizations, and reiterated their commitment to shaping a more fair, just, equitable and representative multipolar international order.

: J Nastranis; SUSTAINABILITY; Global Partnerships; 16 November 2019

Photo: Statements by Russian Putin and Egyptian President El-Sissi for media. Credit: Roscongress Foundation | Anatoliy Medved.

Putin and El-Sissy Greet the Outcome of Russia-Africa Summit

By Kester Kenn Klomegah

MOSCOW (IDN) – The first Russia-Africa Summit that brought together African leaders, corporate businesses, academics and other experts in the Black Sea city of Sochi on October 23-24 has agreed an action plan. At the initiative of African participants, a new dialogue mechanism – the Russia-Africa partnership forum – has been created.

Top-level meetings will take place within its framework once every three years, alternately in Russia and in an African state. And, the foreign ministers of Russia and three African countries – the current, future and previous chairpersons of the African Union – will meet for annual consultations.

: Kester Kenn Klomegah; THE WORLD; Russia; 25 October 2019

UN Chief Unveils Grand Design for the 75th Anniversary

By J Nastranis

NEW YORK (IDN) – In the midst of multiple crises compounded by paucity of funds threatening the very functioning of the United Nations, Secretary-General António Guterres has announced plans emphasizing the vital significance of the world body. Commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations in 2020, he said, will feature a large and inclusive global conversation on the role of global cooperation in building the future we want.

: J Nastranis; UN INSIDER; 24 October 2019

Africa Is Back as a Priority for Russia

By Kester Kenn Klomegah

MOSCOW (IDN) – Russia is now the new foreign player in Africa. Russia's renewed interest in and ‘final great return’ to Africa is primarily due to the desire to restore its previous influence, to halt economic exploitation and western dominance, and to build allies as it experiences growing criticism by Western countries.

While Russians are aware of the competitive conditions on the African continent, Africans view Russia as another fairly large trading partner and probably a stabilizing and balancing factor in the face of other foreign players. Interestingly, Russia's return has sparked debates around the world. Russians are very sensitive toward the usage of the word "return" in business meetings, academic discussions and public speeches.