Things are not looking good for the UN

Long-existing flaws

The importance of the UN's role in global governance has been declining. Major countries organized the G20 to deal with the 2008 global economic crisis instead of turning to the UN. The Iran nuclear treaty was finalized in 2015 through years of talks between Iran and the P5+1, the US, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China and Germany. The treaty that paralleled sanctions lifting and Iran's denuclearizing was opposite of UN resolutions.

Unfortunately, there is no easy way to change that trend. The UN has long been a platform of big-powers games, which has reduced its efficiency and influence.

The financial problem has made the UN hard to meet the payroll but in consideration that the UN makes arrangements for its annual work and budget, the inadequate annual dues of this year will not undermine the UN's operations. The greater challenge for the UN is its accelerating decline.

Developed countries should pay more to solve many UN problems including the budget crisis, although that will not solve the fundamental problems, particularly that the US has "bought" influence beyond its own vote in the UN General Assembly, which contains 193 votes in total.

Even though it also has one of the five permanent votes in the UN Security Council, Washington is not satisfied with the situation and it is worried that its say in the UN will be weakened if the UN is successfully reformed. As a result, Washington has lost patience and considers covering over one-fifth of UN budget disproportionate to the gains. The unilateral US may quit the UN one day.

Shen Dingli, a professor at the Institute of International Studies, Fudan University

The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.