EU, UN are natural allies, says UN chief

    BRUSSELS, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU)（欧盟）and the United Nations (UN) are natural allies, UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said on Tuesday.
    Ban paid his first official visit to the European Parliament（欧洲议会） in Strasbourg, France on Tuesday, as part of a range of events marking the week for combating poverty.
    In his address, Ban called on EU member states to show their solidarity¹ and leadership, as he believes the best way to tackle global challenges is to work all together.
    "This is the time for delivering action," he said. "If we share the burden, we will share the benefits."
    According to the UN chief, the world faces three global challenges, namely tackling extreme poverty around the world, confronting climate change, and building a world free of nuclear weapons.
    To achieve the Millennium² Development Goals（前年发展目标）, Ban said the EU and the UN need to boost resources and accountability, while also promoting growth, decent work, clean energy and innovation.
    He also stressed the need to capture progress at the forthcoming UN climate conference to be held in Cancun, Mexico in November, and to bridge the gap between developing and industrialized countries by providing fast-track financing.
    "The more we delay, the more we will have to pay in competitiveness, in resources and in human lives," he said.
    "We are living in an interconnected world with interconnected challenges. No country can do it alone," Ban added.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)
   

1 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。

2 millennium   

n.一千年，千禧年；太平盛世

参考例句：

• The whole world was counting down to the new millennium.全世界都在倒计时迎接新千年的到来。
• We waited as the clock ticked away the last few seconds of the old millennium.我们静候着时钟滴答走过千年的最后几秒钟。