The External Affairs Minister of India, S Jaishankar is on a 11-day visit to the US beginning September 18th, 2022, leading the Indian delegation and will address the 77th annual UN General Assembly.
The theme of the 77th UNGA is “A Watershed Moment: Transformative Solutions to Interlocking Challenges”. The event is expected to be addressed by the president of the 77th UNGA along with foreign ministers of several member states and the UNDP administrator. Global leaders are expected to focus on security and humanitarian challenges confronting the world.
The MEA said Jaishankar would also participate in plurilateral meetings of the Quad, IBSA, and BRICS as well as meetings under trilateral formats, such as India-France-Australia, India-France-UAE and India-Indonesia-Australia.
To commemorate and showcase Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the external affairs minister would be addressing a special event “India@75: Showcasing India U. N. Partnership in Action” on September 24, which would highlight India’s development journey and its contributions to South-South Cooperation,” the MEA said.
Jaishankar will also host a ministerial meeting of the G4 grouping which, besides India, comprises Brazil, Japan, and Germany, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, announcing his visit. “He will also have bilateral meetings with foreign ministers of the G20 and U. N. Security Council member states, amongst others,” the MEA said.
Jaishankar’s address at the High Level Session of the 77th United Nations General Assembly is scheduled in the forenoon of September 24.
The UN General Assembly (UNGA) is the main policy-making organ of the Organization. Comprising all Member States, it provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter of the United Nations. Each of the 193 Member States of the United Nations has an equal vote.
The UNGA also makes key decisions for the UN, including:
- appointing the Secretary-General on the recommendation of the Security Council
- electing the non-permanent members of the Security Council
- approving the UN budget
The Assembly meets in regular sessions from September to December each year, and thereafter as required. It discusses specific issues through dedicated agenda items or sub-items, which lead to the adoption of resolutions.
Sitting arrangements in the General Assembly Hall change for each session. During the 77th Session (2022-2023), Belize will occupy the first seat in the Hall, including in the Main Committees (followed by all the other countries, in English alphabetical order).
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN General Assembly has been carrying out its work since 2020 via novel means to guarantee business continuity and mitigate the spread of the disease. Specific examples include the use of virtual platforms to conduct meetings and the adoption of e-voting through procedure for decision-making when an in-person meeting is not possible.
The pandemic is not the only issue the world faces. Racism, intolerance, inequality, climate change, poverty, hunger, armed conflict, and other ills remain global challenges. These challenges call for global action, and the General Assembly is a critical opportunity for all to come together and chart a course for the future.
Upon completion of the 77th UNGA-related engagements, Jaishankar will visit Washington from September 25-28 for bilateral meetings with U. S. interlocutors.
“His program includes inter alia, discussions with his counterpart Secretary of State Antony Blinken; senior members of the U. S. Administration, U. S. business leaders, a round-table focused on science and technology and interaction with the Indian diaspora,” the MEA said.
“The external affairs minister’s visit would enable a high-level review of the multifaceted bilateral agenda and strengthen cooperation on regional and global issues to further consolidate the India-U. S. strategic partnership,” it said.
Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the high-level UN General Assembly session. The high-level session will take place against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine war and the ongoing COVID19 pandemic.
