VOA常速英语:UN Chief: 2010 Should Be Year of Sustainable Development

Ban Ki-moon outlined seven strategic priorities to member states. Chief among them is working towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals of eradicating extreme poverty and disease by their target date of 2015.

"Prosperity for all requires global cooperation - cooperation on poverty, hunger, gender empowerment and decent work for all. That is why, here today, I ask that we join together to make 2010 a year of sustainable development to meet the MDGs, address climate change, promote global health, and take the necessary steps for lasting and robust economic recovery," he said.

Also on the U.N. chief's "to do" list - resolving deadly conflicts around the world.

"As ever, our goal is building a safer and more secure world," Ban said. "This means continuing to sharpen our tools for responding to crisis; our strengthened capacities for mediation and preventive diplomacy puts us in a better position to broker political solutions to conflicts before they escalate."

Another top priority includes urging nations to negotiate a binding agreement on climate change and deliver on commitments made in Copenhagen last month.

Mr. Ban had hoped to seal a legal deal in the Danish capital, but it quickly became clear that too many obstacles remained in hammering out such a treaty before the end of last year.

Other items on the U.N. chief's 2010 agenda:  empowering women; working towards a nuclear free world; advancing issues on human rights and the rule of law; and building a better and stronger United Nations system.

And going on in the background of all these efforts will be a massive renovation of U.N. headquarters.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Ban inaugurated a $140 million temporary building on the U.N. campus. The large, white, three-story bare-bones structure sitting on the north lawn will house Mr. Ban's office, several conference rooms and nearly 300 staffers.

It is part of the nearly $2 billion, 5-year renovation of U.N. headquarters which began last year. The complex is more than 50 years old, and when the overhaul is completed, officials say it will be "greener" and more efficient.  More than 6,000 staffers will have been relocated to temporary office space across New York City by late March, when the project gets into full swing.