Khalilur sets six priorities for 81st UNGA
Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister, Dr Khalilur Rahman, has outlined six key priorities for the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) after being elected President of the world’s most representative multilateral body.
Addressing member states following his election at the UN headquarters in New York, Rahman said the upcoming session would be particularly significant as the Assembly would be tasked with addressing major global issues, including UN reform, preparations for the next generation of the global development agenda and the selection of the next UN Secretary-General.
He noted that these responsibilities would coincide with pressing international challenges such as climate change, geopolitical tensions, energy insecurity and widening development disparities.
To address these issues, Rahman said his presidency would focus on six priorities: peace, security and justice; sustainable development and acceleration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); climate resilience and environmental sustainability; human rights, humanitarian action, refugees and migrants; digital governance, artificial intelligence, science and technology; and renewed multilateralism, UN80 reforms and inclusive global governance.
The President-elect pledged to work towards rebuilding trust among nations, fostering consensus and creating opportunities for constructive negotiations capable of delivering outcomes supported by all member states.
“As the President of the next Assembly, I will dedicate myself to rebuilding trust, nurturing consensus, and opening space for good faith negotiations that will lead to outcomes for all that are owned by all,” he said.
Rahman stressed that he would uphold the principles of the UN Charter and conduct the work of the presidency in full accordance with the established code of conduct.
He assured member states that he would serve impartially, saying, “I will be the President of all Member States” and would not allow his personal views to influence his responsibilities.
The Bangladeshi diplomat also emphasised the importance of inclusiveness within the Office of the President. He announced plans to organise his office with geographical, gender and linguistic balance and said one of his early priorities would be establishing a dedicated group to support smaller delegations at the United Nations.
Rahman further said he would consult closely with the UN Secretary-General regarding the organisation and resources of the Office of the President of the General Assembly.
He urged member states to contribute to the PGA Trust Fund and pledged to work towards securing long-term funding for a robust internship programme.
Highlighting continuity in the Assembly’s work, he said he intended to carry forward important initiatives undertaken by the current UNGA President.
He also underscored the importance of public engagement, saying that communicating the United Nations’ achievements to people around the world was essential for strengthening confidence in the organisation.
To that end, he pledged to establish an effective communications team and maintain close engagement with the UN press corps throughout his presidency.
Rahman’s election marks a major diplomatic milestone for Bangladesh and places the country at the centre of deliberations on some of the most pressing global issues facing the international community in the year ahead.
