New Delhi: For the first time after getting elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC), Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a broader UN membership today, in an annual High-Level Segment of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) session.
The Prime Minister will deliver the keynote address virtually at this year's High-Level Segment at the UN in New York. He will be speaking at the valedictory session along with the Prime Minister of Norway and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
The annual High-level Segment convenes a diverse group of high-level representatives from the government, the private sector, civil society and academia. The theme of this year's High-level Segment is 'Multilateralism after COVID19: What kind of UN do we need at the 75th anniversary'.
Set against the changing international environment, and the COVID-19 pandemic, this session will focus on critical forces shaping the course of multilateralism and explore ways to bolster the global agenda through strong leadership, effective international institutions, a broadening of participation and enhanced significance of global public goods.
READ:| PM Modi to address India Ideas Summit on July 22
This will be the first opportunity for Prime Minister Modi to address the broader UN membership since India's overwhelming election as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the term 2021-22.
The theme of the High-Level Segment of the ECOSOC, on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the UN, also resonates with India's Security Council priority, wherein India has called for a reformed multilateralism' in a post-COVID-19 world. It also recalls India's role, as the holder of the inaugural Presidency of ECOSOC (Sir Ramaswami Mudaliar, in 1946).
The Prime Minister had earlier delivered the keynote address virtually at the 70th anniversary of the ECOSOC in January 2016.
With 184 votes out of the total 192 polled, India won the UN non-permanent seat for the eighth time. It emerged as the single-endorsed candidate from the Asian Pacific regional group, amid the larger push for the country to be made a permanent member of the five-nation apex grouping, currently comprising the US, the UK, Russia, China, and France.
READ:| On United Nations' 75th anniversary, PM Modi to virtually address ECOSOC on July 17
The ECOSOC was established as one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and is mandated to offer direction to, and undertake the coordination of, the economic, social, and cultural activities of the United Nations, with responsibility for advancing international economic and social cooperation and development.
The first meeting of the ECOSOC was convened on 23 January 1946, in London, United Kingdom. India was the first President of ECOSOC in 1946. It is worth mentioning that the inaugural Presidency was held by Sir Ramaswami Mudaliar of India.
Inputs from agency
