UN chief on trade: Cooperation, not protectionism

Describing himself as a strong believer in multilateralism, Guterres said global problems cannot be addressed on a country-by-country basis.

"Global problems need to have global answers, and global answers can only be implemented through multilateral frameworks," he said. "And so the international framework that governs global trade is of course of extreme importance."

As a true believer in free trade as a key contributor to global prosperity, Guterres said globalization has brought enormous benefits, but it also has losers and victims. For example, income inequality has increased, and many people have been left behind.

"The answer to this problem is not protectionism, is not isolationism, but the answer is international cooperation, and the Agenda 2030 can be a very important instrument for that," he said.

The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a blueprint for eradicating poverty worldwide by the year 2030.

Guterres said "it's extremely important for us to be able to have a fair globalization for the Agenda 2030 to be implemented, leaving no one behind for global injustices to be corrected, and for the possibility of establishing a community of a shared prosperity in the world as President Xi Jinping usually mentions".

He said China has been an active builder of multilateralism and involved in all forms of global governance.

"We welcome that fact as a positive contribution for the world," he said.