The spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic is a challenge that requires the unification of efforts, co-operation and international solidarity, HE the ambassador Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani, Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations, has said. 
This came in a speech which HE Sheikha Alya, in her capacity as facilitator in partnership with the Permanent Delegate of Sweden, delivered while participating in consultations between member-states on the draft political declaration to be adopted at the high-level meeting with the participation of heads of state and governments on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations in September. 
Taking part in the virtual dialogue held under the title “The Future We Want - The United Nations We Need”, HE Sheikha Alya said the virus has reached all countries in the world and did not distinguish between them and has become a test for all. 
The dialogue was organised by the government of Sweden in partnership with the “Global Challenges Foundation”; with the aim of highlighting the importance of global governance and the celebration of multilateralism, within the framework of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations.
Sheikha Alya noted that this situation comes at a time when work is being done to plan for the future of the United Nations. She reviewed the process of consultations on the statement of the high-level meeting of heads of states and governments in light of the developments of the pandemic, stressing that the political declaration is meaningful and not removed from the suffering and aspirations of people around the world, as the effectiveness of the United Nations in the 21st century depends on that.
Sheikha Alya said that the consultations will continue remotely, and that the main challenges will be addressed. These are the ongoing conflicts, climate change, the absence of confidence globally, and the positive and negative aspects of emerging technologies. She also drew attention to the need to focus on the Covid-19 crisis, with its dimensions and effects, and how to deal with it, which has become part of the political declaration.
Ambassador Sheikha Alyaia  affirmed that the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations is an opportunity to renew the principles and values established by the founders of the United Nations as well as to enhance multilateralism.
The virtual dialogue was inaugurated by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden Ann Linde, and  the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg Jean Asselborn as well as Fabrizio Hochschild Drummond, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Special Adviser on Preparations for the Seventy-Fifth United Nations Anniversary.
The participants stressed the importance of multilateral co-operation and the international system to meet the many challenges facing the world in economic, environmental and legal fields. 
They also underlined the importance of the global response to the coronavirus pandemic, taking into account the economic and social impacts, as well as responding to the UN secretary-general’s call for a global ceasefire.
Participants also stressed that the Covid-19 pandemic underscored the great importance of multilateralism, as the lives of many will depend on how successful states are in solidarity and supporting international institutions. They agreed that this time is a time of pluralism, not a time of isolationism, and that all have a responsibility to ensure that the United Nations is strong and capable of addressing global challenges.