In a world increasingly divided along cultural, political and religious lines, would it matter if the UN ceased to exist?

The multinational institution, founded 60 years ago in the ashes of World War II, remains the only global forum that can meet the daunting challenges of a world where poverty and violence are still endemic.

The goals enshrined in the UN Charter, particularly those regarding international peace and security, have never been more significant.

The charter's words are as relevant today as they were 60 years ago. The organization is struggling to adapt its high ideals to a world now populated by almost four times as many nation-states as at the time of its creation.

To reach its ambitious targets, the UN needs reform and reinvigoration. Otherwise, it risks declining credibility.

The future of collective international efforts to deal with the challenges of the new century is at stake.

In September, world leaders accepted a document that commits them to an overhaul of the world body's efforts to fight poverty, terrorism and human rights abuses.

The original thrust of the UN summit was to take action to implement goals set by world leaders at their meeting in 2000. These include cutting poverty by half, ensuring universal primary education and stemming the AIDS pandemic by 2015.

Since the UN came into being, the possibility of the human race uniting and living in peace and prosperity has remained the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

The desire for peace and prosperity transcends every barrier. It is the glue that binds peoples of different religions, political systems and races in pursuit of stability and development.

Global cooperation still remains out of reach in many respects. Yet, the population of the global village has been seeking to make that hope a reality.

The world body has showed its strengths and weaknesses in the past 60 years.

It has largely been delivering on its promise to maintain peace and security, if not in every corner of the world.

The UN has made a significant difference in many regions. The good the UN does -- especially in areas such as refugee aid, development and disease prevention -- is essential for billions of poor people around the world.

Rich and poor nations have their own expectations of the world body and what it can do to realize their vision of the world.

Now more than ever, the UN is the organization that can address mounting tension between the developed and developing countries, to head off what some analysts have called a clash of civilizations.

The UN has fallen far short of attaining some of the goals its founders set. A deeply troubled institution, it is facing an uncertain future, with its effectiveness diminished by a disturbing array of mistakes, power politics, scandals and other shortcomings.

These problems could be a recipe for disaster if left unresolved.

The world body should be a channel through which the leading global powers work with the rest of the world rather than a diplomatic surrogate for US might.

The future UN we would like should be more active and responsive; not waiting until a situation explodes and then rushing in.

The UN is a forum where disparate members are expected to agree on aspirations and means.

Building a common approach for achieving common objectives is an inherently difficult and contentious undertaking.

The world organization must improve its accountability and efficiency, and become more responsive to the needs of the world.

(China Daily October 25, 2005)