UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the United States to exempt critical aid deliveries from its sweeping order to pause foreign assistance, his spokesman said on Monday.

Guterres "notes with concern" the announcement of a pause in U.S. foreign assistance, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary-general, said in a statement.

The UN chief calls for additional exemptions to be considered to ensure the continued delivery of critical development and humanitarian activities for the most vulnerable communities around the world, whose lives and livelihoods depend on this support, Dujarric said.

Guterres looks forward to engaging with the new U.S. administration on the provision of much-needed development support to people grappling with the most difficult challenges confronting the developing world, the spokesman said. "The United States is one of the largest aid providers and it is vital that we work constructively to jointly shape a strategic path forward."

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday ordered a sweeping pause on almost all of the State Department's existing foreign aid grants. Effective immediately and valid for 90 days, Rubio's guidance required State Department staffers to issue "stop-work orders" on nearly all "existing foreign assistance awards," according to media reports. ■