The United Nations is marking its 75th anniversary, but for the first time global leaders have been marking the event virtually because of the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. The UN General Assembly begins on Tuesday with events planned throughout the week. 

The UN has reiterated its mantra that "multilateralism is not an option but a necessity," and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged members to work together, as COVID-19 challenges the effectiveness and solidarity of the international organisation.

Jorge Braga De Macedo, distinguished fellow at the Centre For International Governance Innovation and a former Portuguese finance minister, discussed the UN's successes and failures with CGTN.

"The achievement is to still be in this difficult world, threatened by not just the usual financial problems we witnessed ten years ago but now by climate and health," he said.