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UNGA launches its first plenary meeting
Updated 11:05, 14-Sep-2022
Caroline Malone
01:26

The 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) opened on Tuesday, and its new president urged world leaders to work together and bridge "deep divides" in order to address humanity's most important problems, such as the conflict in Ukraine. 

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addresses the first plenary of the 77th session of the UNGA at the UN headquarters in New York, U.S., September 13, 2022. /Xinhua

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addresses the first plenary of the 77th session of the UNGA at the UN headquarters in New York, U.S., September 13, 2022. /Xinhua

In his opening remarks at the first full offline meeting since the pandemic's onset, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for solidarity among member states to address common challenges.

With the world in peril, the work of advancing peace, human rights and sustainable development face multiple challenges. Threats and obstacles from conflicts, climate change, poverty, inequality, hunger, divisions and mistrust require "continued solidarity as we demonstrate the great promise and potential of this organization," Guterres said.

He appreciated UNGA President Csaba Korosi's work concept of "Solutions Through Solidarity, Sustainability and Science," saying the three factors matter the most when devising a solution. Korosi was sworn in on Monday at the closing of the 76th session of the UNGA.

Csaba Korosi (C), president of the 77th session of the UNGA, declares open the 77th session at the UN headquarters in New York, U.S., September 13, 2022. /Xinhua News Agency

Csaba Korosi (C), president of the 77th session of the UNGA, declares open the 77th session at the UN headquarters in New York, U.S., September 13, 2022. /Xinhua News Agency

Addressing the session, Korosi called for mutual effort, tolerance, networking and effective multilateralism to address the most urgent challenges. 

Apart from the General Debate, the week will also see a high-level meeting to mark the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities on September 21, and a high-level meeting to commemorate and promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons on September 26.

(With input from Xinhua)

A view of the first plenary of the 77th session of the UNGA, September 13, 2022. /Xinhua News Agency

A view of the first plenary of the 77th session of the UNGA, September 13, 2022. /Xinhua News Agency

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