UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres (Photo: AP)

He said the focus will be on finding solutions for political tensions, pushing for urgent action to halt climate change, promoting sustainable development goals (SDGs), and building a networked multilateralism between the UN and other international organizations.

The UN in 2020 will promote peace through diplomacy, including attending a session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union next weekend to discuss ways to prevent conflicts and solve global challenges.

The UN chief called on all countries, especially the big CO2 emitters, to commit to the fight against climate change with both words and money. He said key international conferences in 2020, including the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in the UK, are opportunities for climate action.

Mr. Guterres specifically addressed sustainable development goals, saying more efforts will be made to break the vicious cycle of poverty and inequality, and to shape a fair globalization that leaves no one behind. He emphasized that the UN has launched a Decade of Action to deliver on the SDGs, one goal after another.