In response to the sharp escalation of violent conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, the United Nations called on all parties concerned to cease fire and engage in dialog.
The general debate of the 79th UN General Assembly came to a close at the UN headquarters in New York on Monday. Philemon Yang, president of 79th session of UN General Assembly, said in his closing speech that the violent conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon has escalated dramatically in the past few days, which may lead to war in the entire Middle East.
"The world must not allow an all-out war to happen in this volatile region. We call on all parties — Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah — to urgently conclude a ceasefire. And for all remaining hostages to be freed immediately and unharmed. I also call on all those with influence on the parties to demand an immediate ceasefire and dialogue. I further call on all states supplying weapons to the region to desist from such actions, and give peace a chance," Yang said.
According to a reporter of China Media Group in the United Nations, the UN has not issued any new statement so far regarding Israel's limited military operation against Lebanon that began on Oct 1.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary-general, on Monday read out a statement from Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The statement said that Guterres is still paying close attention to the situation in Lebanon and the serious humanitarian consequences it has caused. Guterres continued to reiterate his call on all parties to ease the situation, stop hostilities, and fully implement Security Council Resolution 1701.
Dujarric said that the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon is still within its area of responsibility, but due to the current situation, they are unable to carry out their mission.
The United Nations will launch an emergency appeal on Tuesday to mobilize additional humanitarian resources for Lebanon to meet the growing needs of approximately one million people affected by the crisis, said the spokesman.
UN calls on parties of Israel-Lebanon conflict to cease fire, start dialog
UN calls on parties of Israel-Lebanon conflict to cease fire, start dialog
China, as home to seven of the world's ten largest container ports, has been looking to increase international cooperation in the global shipping industry, and has established the Silk Road Maritime brand based in Xiamen City along the country's southeastern coast to support this goal.
Silk Road Maritime is a shipping-themed international comprehensive logistics service brand and platform whose mission is to aid the construction of the Belt and Road.
"First of all, it is a brand. Secondly, it is a platform. We promote it as a brand and platform geared towards the Belt and Road Initiative, with shipping as the theme," said Li Nan, General Manager of Fujian Silk Road Maritime Management Co.
Over the past six years, Silk Road Maritime has crossed various milestones that underscore its commitment to enhancing global shipping and connectivity.
The brand has successfully formed an association that brings together various stakeholders in the industry, fostering collaboration and shared standards.
A dedicated platform has been developed to streamline services and information-sharing among members.
One of its notable technological advancements is the creation of a weather navigation software that helps vessels plan optimal routes based on real-time weather data, marking a breakthrough for China in an industry largely dominated by Western companies.
Additionally, the brand has introduced smart trackable containers, ensuring greater transparency in tracking cargo.
To incentivize efficiency, the initiative names and rewards exemplary shipping routes, recognizing companies that excel in service quality. Furthermore, it has hosted numerous forums to facilitate dialogue and exchange of ideas, ultimately aiming to create a more interconnected and efficient international supply chain. "We also hope that in the next steps, through projects like building the Port of Piraeus in Greece and the Port of Mandola, we can not only export our hardware but also input our software. We aim to export our standards and input our services. By promoting these standardized services, we can make the entire international supply chain more efficient, safe, stable and controllable," explained Li.
In just six years, the Silk Road Maritime initiative has gathered over 340 members, including major global ports and trade enterprises. "Over the past two years, there have been talks of decoupling and breaking supply chains, but our trade continues to grow. This matter relates to national interests and the well-being of people worldwide, making it less susceptible to political interference. We believe that as long as we maintain friendly exchanges with the people of these countries along the Belt and Road Initiative, sharing common economic interests and interactions, we can definitely achieve our goal of building a community with a shared future. This path is undoubtedly the right one," said Li.
As global trade continues to grow, initiatives like Silk Road Maritime are crucial in fostering international connections, ensuring that even amid political challenges the flow of goods remains uninterrupted.
China builds global maritime shipping alliance to advance Belt and Road cooperation
