UNITED NATIONS, June 26 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Wednesday commemorated the 74th anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter, with a symbolic ceremony for the signatures of the ambassadors of its member states.
Chairing the commemoration, UN General Assembly President Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces praised the 50 founders of the world body as hard-headed leaders, "who weighed the downsides of compromises against the benefits of cooperation and the heavy cost of war."
She recalled that 74 years ago, only nine Asian and four African countries were able to sign the charter, and now the UN membership has grown nearly fourfold.
"Self-determination, equality, human rights, peace and security, sustainable development, values and goals enshrined in the charter have defined the progress of our modern age since the last world war," she said.
The ambassadors of the UN member states put their signatures on the charter as a gesture of renewed commitment to its values and goals.
As the member states made a symbolic commitment Wednesday, Espinosa expressed her hope that they will keep their promises made through the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement and many other instruments on the critical challenges of the time.
An artwork featuring the UN Charter's preamble in the six official languages of the UN was presented at the General Assembly hall. It will remain on display until the commemoration of the 75 anniversary in 2020.
Highlighting the opening words of the charter "we the peoples," the artwork reminds the member states that "we are here to serve humanity," Espinosa noted.
In addition, Fabrizio Hochschild, special adviser for the UN75 commemorations, presented the secretary-general's plans to observe this emblematic date next year.
On June 26, 1945, delegates from 50 nations signed the UN Charter in San Francisco, the United States. It came into force on Oct. 24, 1945, which was designated as UN Day.
