Francis highlighted that India plays an “unparalleled role” in the global mission for a better and more sustainable world.
New York: India’s recent G20 Presidency achieved a historic milestone by including the African Union as a permanent member, said United Nations General Assembly President Dennis Francis on Saturday. While addressing the gathering at the ‘India-UN for Global South: Delivering for Development’ event he said that the inclusion of the African Union as a G20 member is ‘strong symbol of solidarity and cooperation across the Global South’. “India’s recent G20 presidency marked a historic milestone. Being the first to usher the African Union into the group as a permanent member. A strong symbol of solidarity and cooperation across the Global South,” he said.
Francis highlighted that India plays an “unparalleled role” in the global mission for a better and more sustainable world. He referred to India’s legacy of contributions as a “guiding light,” which includes endeavours such as championing democracy and promoting women-led development.
“India, home to one-sixth of humanity, plays an unparalleled role in our global mission for a better, more sustainable world. India’s legacy of contributions serves asa guiding light, encompassing endeavours such as championing democracy, promoting women-led development, and being among the pioneers in adopting the UN’s global goals. Indeed, it is a matter of great honour for me to follow in the footsteps of Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, the first-ever female President of the General Assembly, whom India proudly entrusted to the United Nations,” Dennis Francis said.
He also underlined that the India and UN partnership serves as an “inspiration” to Global South, mentioning that India-UN for Global South: Delivering for Development event echoes the message of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. The UNGA President further stated that multilateral organisations including the United Nations need the reform to fully recognise and leverage the significance of the Global South.
“Our enduring partnership from the UN’s heart to India’s remotest villages serves as an inspiration to the Global South. Today’s event echoes the messages of the G20 Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – The world is one family and we must support each other. Throughout this week, we discussed global crises and agreed that we must bridge gaps between commitments to the sustainable development agenda and its implementation,” he said.
Francis also praised India for its role in bolstering digital public infrastructure and innovative capacity building. “Multilateral organizations, including the UN and the international financial architecture, urgently need reform to fully recognize and leverage the significance of the Global South. From bolstering digital public infrastructure and innovative capacity building to strengthening the existing supply chains and addressing the debt crisis, India is setting an example for many UN member states from the Global South,” he stated.
He mentioned that India’s recent lunar mission highlights the potential of science and technology and demonstrates what can be accomplished when all nations have access to these resources. He also noted that several significant events on the UN sustainable development calendar will greatly affect the Global South during this session. These events include high-level meetings in the General Assembly, the Fourth Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Conference, the Third Landlocked Developing Countries Conference, and the global stocktake of the Paris Agreement at COP28.
“India’s recent lunar mission, landing on the Moon’s South Pole, showcases the power of science and technology and what can be achieved when all countries have access to them. Undoubtedly, these foster inclusive and sustainable development benefiting the entire Global South, and I commend India’s pioneering role in its endeavours,” Dennis Francis said.