Jaishankar Congratulates Philemon Yang on Leading 79th UN General Assembly

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar congratulated Philemon Yang on his presidency of the 79th UN General Assembly, emphasizing its role in promoting Global South priorities. Yang vowed to focus on conflict resolution in Gaza, Haiti, and Ukraine, amid a world facing various issues including poverty and climate change.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday congratulated Philemon Yang for assuming the presidency of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Jaishankar underscored the General Assembly's essential role in advancing priorities for the Global South, asserting that its leadership is "absolutely vital."

Via a post on X, Jaishankar stated, "Congratulate Philemon Yang of Cameroon on assuming the Presidency of the 79th UN General Assembly. The General Assembly's leadership on priorities of the Global South is absolutely vital. India assures to play a constructive role in working towards these shared goals under your stewardship."

The 79th session of the UN General Assembly commenced in New York, featuring representatives of Palestine amongst UN member states. Philemon Yang, the former Prime Minister of Cameroon, was elected as the president of the 79th General Assembly in June, succeeding Dennis Francis. Yang promised to prioritize resolution of conflicts in regions such as the Gaza Strip, Haiti, and Ukraine. "I will urge the assembly to intensify its determination, to prioritize the resolution of conflicts, including the intractable ones in the Gaza Strip, Haiti, and Ukraine. Human rights will remain at the core of our General Assembly," Yang had said.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also congratulated Yang, noting the session's commencement amid a "world in trouble" but expressed optimism, stating, "the good news is that we can do something about it." Guterres highlighted last year's tumultuous events, including persistent poverty, inequality, conflict, and the fact that it was the hottest year on record. He expressed hope and inspiration for collective achievements.

This year's General Debate, set from September 24 to September 30, follows the theme -- "Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations." The session aims to finalize a negotiated "Pact for the Future" to bolster global cooperation against current and future challenges.

The session also includes high-level meetings addressing diverse topics such as the elimination of nuclear weapons, the threat of rising sea levels, and strengthening global health systems against antimicrobial resistance.

(With inputs from agencies.)