Editor's note: The United Nations faces several challenges in maintaining world peace and promoting global development. Mao Ruipeng, vice-president of the Shanghai UN Research Association, spoke to Wenhui Daily about the UN's role in global affairs. Below are excerpts of the interview. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

Since it was established in 1945, the United Nations has made tremendous contributions to maintaining peace, promoting development and protecting human rights. While it often finds itself deadlocked and ineffective in the face of military conflicts, especially those involving major countries, it has made strenuous efforts and played a significant role in mediation, peacekeeping, prevention of interstate conflicts and post-conflict reconstruction.

Without the UN and the international order it represents, the world would descend further into "law of the jungle" power politics, where relations between countries are determined by force and coercion. Moreover, it would be difficult to implement international development cooperation programs without the UN. There would be even less international cooperation to address global issues, including poverty alleviation, health aid, protection of women's and children's rights, pollution control and climate change.

The UN is the most universal, authoritative, representative and inclusive of all international organizations. For many small and medium-sized countries, the UN General Assembly is the only platform in which their voices can be heard on global issues. A balanced assessment of the organization requires recognizing not only what it has accomplished so far, but what it has yet to achieve. It is important to acknowledge the UN's fundamental functions while aspiring to improve its ability to fulfill them.

Many difficulties facing the UN are due to the insufficient autonomy of the organization. Member states need to better recognize the UN's authority by accepting and implementing its resolutions, especially those adopted by the Security Council, and actively participating in UN-led initiatives such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This, of course, is based on the premise that UN resolutions are fair and just. The timely and full payment of contributions is also crucial. The current financial crisis has severely constrained the functioning of the UN.

In line with the trend of the times and the consensus of the international community, the voice and representation of Global South countries in the global governance system need to be enhanced. Even Western countries have realized that following the rise of the Global South, the system needs adjustments to become more just, reasonable, equal and balanced.

Many difficulties in global governance do not originate from the Global South, but result from vested interests — especially those of certain major countries, which are unwilling to give up their monopolistic advantages. These result in obstruction, suppression and opposition to the demands of the Global South. This has led to a confrontation between multilateralism and unilateralism.

The China-proposed Global Governance Initiative has injected new momentum into the reform of the UN and the global governance system. The core of UN reform lies in upholding the UN's role as the anchor of global governance. Its reform should be carried out according to the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. It should reflect the values of fairness and justice, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries, and advance gradually.