In a significant diplomatic move, United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) President Dennis Francis arrived in New Delhi on Monday for a five-day visit aimed at fostering stronger ties between Bharat and the UN. The visit, scheduled from January 22 to 26, is at the invitation of Bharat’s External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar.
Upon his arrival, Francis was warmly received at the airport by India’s permanent representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj. Expressing enthusiasm for the visit, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Official Spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, stated that the trip provides an opportunity to advance India-UN relations and engage in discussions on shared priorities and global challenges.
President Francis, who assumed his UNGA presidency recently, outlined his priorities as focusing on peace, prosperity, progress, and sustainability. The overarching theme of his presidency is “Rebuilding trust and reigniting solidarity.”
During his stay in New Delhi, the UNGA President is scheduled to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. Additionally, he will participate in a round table discussing India’s advancements in Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). A public address at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) on “Multilateralism and Peace, Prosperity, Progress, and Sustainability” is also on the agenda for January 24.
President Francis will then travel to Jaipur and Mumbai, where he will pay tribute at the 26/11 memorial. Engagements in Mumbai include a visit to the National Stock Exchange and an address on “New Orientation for Reformed Multilateralism” organized by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF).
On January 26, Republic Day in India, the UNGA President will participate as a State guest in the Republic Day Parade of Maharashtra, marking a symbolic celebration of diplomatic relations.
The visit holds strategic importance as it presents a unique opportunity to strengthen India-UN ties, particularly with the General Assembly, known as the most representative organ of the United Nations. Key discussions during the visit will revolve around India’s call for UN reforms, with a focus on the Security Council, to ensure a more equitable and representative structure that better reflects the interests of developing countries.
In addition to advancing India’s collaboration with the UN on national priorities, the visit aims to address global challenges faced by the Global South. The official release from the Ministry of External Affairs emphasizes the significance of this diplomatic exchange in enhancing cooperation and addressing shared concerns on the international stage.
Comments