President Ashraf Ghani said on Monday night that a democratically stable and prosperous Afghanistan would be an example of how collective will can overcome even the most serious challenges.

Speaking at a virtual meeting to mark the United Nations’ 75th Anniversary, Ghani addressed global leaders and said his country sits at the heart of untapped potential, peace and prosperity, but is also a victim of turmoil.

The COVID‑19 pandemic exposed the world’s vulnerabilities as violence and warfare have evolved, he said, adding that the world is in the middle of a fifth wave of global terrorism.

Other drivers of turmoil include drought, famine and deepening inequality, he said, emphasizing the urgent need for a ceasefire in Afghanistan and calling on the UN General Assembly to help the country achieve peace.

World leaders gathered in a virtual format at the General Assembly on Monday to adopt a declaration honoring the multilateral framework put in place by its founders in 1945 and pledging to better live out the promise to save succeeding generations from the scourge of

We are not here to celebrate, world leaders said, through the declaration. Our world is not yet the world our founders envisaged 75 years ago.

In fact, it is plagued by growing poverty, hunger, terrorism, climate change - and now, the epic onset of COVID-19, they stated. People are forced to make dangerous journeys in search of safety. Least developed countries are falling behind and we still have not achieved complete decolonization, they stressed.

Acknowledging that COVID-19 caught them off-guard, they agreed it has served as a wake-up call for improving preparedness. What we agree today will affect the sustainability of our planet as well as the welfare of generations for decades, they said, committing to uphold the declaration in the spirit of We the Peoples.