Remarks Delivered by Mr. Ivor Fung, Chef de Cabinet, on behalf of the President of the General Assembly, Mr. Philemon Yang
Opening Ceremony of the International Year of Peace and Trust, 2025
17 January 2025, 1:00 PM
United Nations Headquarters, New York
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my distinct honor to address you at the opening of the International Year of Peace and Trust.
We gather here with a single vision: to foster a world in which peace and trust among nations reign, putting aside the bitter legacies of strife and injustice.
This vision has never been more urgent. Our era is defined by geopolitical uncertainty, eroding trust, and conflicts stretching from Palestine to Sudan, and Ukraine.
Reversing these troubling trends¡ªand fulfilling the United Nations¡¯ foundational mission to secure a just and lasting global peace ¨C is what inspired the General Assembly to declare 2025 as the International Year of Peace and Trust.
To achieve these aspirations, we must embrace dialogue, understanding, and cooperation. These principles are indispensable for attaining sustainable development, fostering peace, and safeguarding human rights.
They also drive the New Agenda for Peace and the Pact for the Future¡ªframeworks that unite us in confronting today¡¯s monumental challenges, from conflict resolution and development goals to the urgent demands of the climate crisis.
Yet designating this year as the International Year of Peace and Trust must be more than a symbolic gesture.
We must act to forge new partnerships, deepen existing friendships, and bring fresh energy to ongoing dialogues.
By doing so, we will stand stronger, guided by the conviction that unity can triumph over division.
Let me conclude with a reflection: Peace does not simply mean the absence of conflict. It embodies the presence of trust, justice, dialogue, and equity¡ªfoundations upon which societies can truly flourish.
As we embark on this year, I urge each of us to recommit to these essential ideals.
Together, we can strengthen the bonds that unite us and, in so doing, create a lasting legacy of peace and trust for generations to come.
I thank you.
Media Contacts
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