UNGA: Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed to lead UAE delegation at 78th session

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Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, will lead the UAE’s delegation to the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA78) in New York from September 18 to 26, as per state news agency WAM.

Sheikh Abdullah will present the UAE’s policy priorities and vision for international peace, security, and cooperation in his address scheduled for September 23.

This year’s gathering is expected to have more than 150 heads of state and government in attendance.

The UAE at 78th UNGA

Under Sheikh Abdullah’s leadership, the UAE delegation will engage with Member States, UN officials, and other stakeholders on urgent global challenges, including the need to address climate change, preventing extremism, countering threats from terrorist groups, and the empowerment of women and girls, reported WAM.

The UAE delegation will participate in several high-level meetings during UNGA78, related to raising climate ambition, financing for development, pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, universal health coverage, the fight against tuberculosis, and the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons.

As a longstanding champion for greater action and cooperation to address the impacts of climate change, the UAE will also participate in the “Climate Ambition Summit” on September 20. The UN-convened Summit is aimed at accelerating the transition to a climate-resilient global economy. It will serve as a key milestone ahead of COP28 in Dubai later this year.

The COP28 team, led by Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, COP28 President-Designate, will lead a number of critical events and bilateral meetings to build support for ambitious outcomes at COP28 in November. The Presidency will chair two Ministerial Roundtables: one on the Global Stocktake and another on Loss and Damage. The team will also host a number of important events that will build momentum around the COP28 action agenda.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed underscored the importance of the multilateral system for the UAE’s vision of creating a better world for all.

He said, “Our participation in the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly will serve the UAE’s diplomatic priorities, set by President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Here at the UN, and especially during our term on the Security Council, our bridge-building approach and commitment to enhancing international cooperation has yielded significant accomplishments, including the historic resolution 2686 on ‘Tolerance and International Peace and Security’, as well as important Council decisions on Afghanistan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Yemen.”

Sheikh Abdullah added, “The UAE is also proud of the progress we’ve helped drive on the Women, Peace, and Security agenda and addressing the nexus between climate change, and peace and security. As the world gathers at the General Assembly to confront the critical challenges we face, including extremism, terrorism, climate change, global public health, and food, energy, and water insecurity, we look forward to sharing our expertise, experience, and approach.”

“This session of the UN General Assembly will take place during a critical time for the international community. Its theme of ‘rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity’ reflects the urgent need to bolster the multilateral system’s ability to solve the world’s most pressing issues,” said Ambassador Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, UAE’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.

“The UAE is an established bridge-builder, and during our term on the UN Security Council, we have leveraged that experience to find common ground and encourage cooperation. We look forward to building on that track record as we engage the international community and seek to strengthen solidarity, find consensus, and work to maintain international peace and security.”

UNGA’s 78th session

The 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly marks a crucial milestone in the journey towards achieving the 2030 Agenda and the urgent need to put the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) back on track.

World leaders gather to engage in the annual high-level General Debate under the theme, “Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all.”

Heads of State and Government and ministers explore solutions to the intertwined global challenges to advance peace, security, and sustainable development.

SDG Summit

Heads of State and Government will gather at UN Headquarters in New York on September 18-19 to review the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its 17 SDG s and provide high-level political guidance on transformative and accelerated actions leading up to the target year of 2030 for achieving the goals.

The outcome will be a negotiated political declaration.