The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday sent out his new year message for 2025 and called for more efforts among nations to ensure that a world which is divided can instead become more united.
In a video message to mark the new year, the UN chief looked back on the last 12 months, and expressed the hope that 2025 would mark a new beginning for countries around the world to work together with greater unity.
Guterres said that throughout 2024, "hope has been hard to find," with wars causing enormous "pain, suffering and displacement" and rife inequalities and divisions "fueling tensions and mistrust."
He also drew attention to the climate crisis, noting the past decade has been the hottest 10 years on record, and said the world is suffering from a "climate breakdown."
In order to exit this "road to ruin," he urged countries to put the world on a safer path by dramatically slashing emissions and supporting the transition to a renewable future.
Guterres stressed that the joint efforts of people all around the world would help keep hope alive.
"There are no guarantees for what's ahead in 2025, but I pledge to stand with all those who are working to forge a more peaceful, equal, stable and healthy future for all people. Together, we can make 2025 a new beginning, not as a world divided, but as nations united," said Guterres.
UN chief calls for stronger global unity in 2025
UN chief calls for stronger global unity in 2025
China on Wednesday announced interim measures for the implementation of a flexible retirement system, in a move to enforce the previously adopted policy of incrementally raising the statutory retirement age.
The measures stipulated the procedures for applying for flexible retirement and the requirements for receiving basic pensions, among other details.
Under the new policy, individuals will be allowed to retire up to three years earlier than the new statutory retirement age once they have met the minimum pension contribution requirements. But it is not allowed to retire earlier than the previous statutory age.
Individuals will be able to postpone retirement to an even later date if they reach an agreement with their employers, though this delay must not exceed three years.
Experts say the new retirement system offers flexible options for workers with different situations.
"The flexible retirement policy takes into full consideration the needs of different groups, allowing workers to flexibly choose their own retirement time and to better balance life and work. The lower-aged elderly who have willingness, capabilities, and conditions, could continue to engage in social production and service roles to realize their personal value," said Li Chang'an, researcher with the Academy of China Open Economy Studies under the University of International Business and Economics.
Chinese lawmakers voted in last September to adopt a decision on gradually raising the statutory retirement age in the country, marking the first adjustment in the arrangement since the 1950s.
According to the decision adopted at the 11th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress, the statutory retirement age for men will be gradually raised from 60 to 63 in the course of 15 years starting 2025, while that for women cadres and women blue-collar workers will be raised from 55 to 58 and from 50 to 55, respectively.
Starting 2030, the minimum year of basic pension contributions required to receive monthly benefits will be gradually raised from 15 years to 20 years at the pace of an increase of six months annually.
China announces interim measures for introducing flexible retirement system
