UNITED NATIONS, April 16 -- The 2019 Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) financing for development forum opened here Monday and its participants called for efforts to reform the multilateral trading system.

Many of the attendees' speeches started with stating economic risks and tensions which the world currently faces.

ECOSOC President Inga Rhonda King said that "debt levels have risen, as has a vulnerability, stifling investment in developing countries, trade tensions meanwhile are dampening economic growth."

In his remarks, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spotlighted the threats posed by heightened global trade tensions, possible economic challenges and rising greenhouse -- gas emissions.

UN General Assembly President Maria F...