PM Modi Advocates Global Cooperation at 79th UNGA Summit of the Future

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
• 79th UN General Assembly
• Summit of the Future
• Key highlights of the speech delivered by PM Modi at Summit of the Future

Why in News?

PM Modi addressed the ‘Summit of the Future’ at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The theme of the Summit is ‘Multilateral Solutions for a Better Tomorrow’.

United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)

• About
  • It was established in 1945 under the Charter of the United Nations and is headquartered in New York City.
  • It is one of the six principal organs of the UN and serves as the main policy-making organ of the Organization.
  • It provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter of the United Nations.
  • Each Member States of the United Nations has an equal vote.
• key decisions
  • The UNGA also makes key decisions for the UN, including:
    • appointing the Secretary-General on the recommendation of the Security Council
    • electing the non-permanent members of the Security Council
    • approving the UN budget
• Some of the important achievements of UNGA
  • Millennium Declaration, adopted in 2000
  • The 2005 World Summit Outcome Document
  • 17 Sustainable Development Goals formulated in September 2015
• General debate of UNGA
  • The Assembly’s annual general debate provides Member States the opportunity to express their views on major international issues.
  • On this occasion, the Secretary-General presents on the opening day of the debate his report on the work of the Organization.

79th UN General Assembly

• About
  • The UNGA 79, held from 10th to 30th September 2024 focuses on accelerating progress toward achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
  • During this, global leaders will address interconnected challenges and adopt the Pact for the Future, which includes a Global Digital Compact highlighting gender equality.
  • The 79th session is being chaired by Cameroonian President Philemon Yong.
• Theme – “Leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations”

Summit of the Future

• On 22-23 September 2024, Heads of State and Government met at the UN Headquarters in New York to address global governance challenges revealed by recent crises.
• The Summit aims to reaffirm commitments to the SDGs and the UN Charter, strengthen cooperation, and lay the groundwork for an improved multilateral system.
• The summit emphasized the importance of international cooperation to tackle critical global challenges such as climate change, poverty, inequality, ongoing conflicts, and health crises.
• Theme - “Multilateral solutions for a better tomorrow”
• The expected outcome of the Summit includes a Pact for the Future, alongside documents like the Global Digital Compact and Declaration on Future Generations.

Key highlights of the speech delivered by PM Modi at Summit of the Future

• Emphasis on Collective Strength for Global Peace and Development
  • PM Modi emphasized that "the success of humanity lies in our collective strength, not in the battlefield."
  • He highlighted the need for reforms in global institutions to achieve lasting global peace and sustainable development, advocating for a human-centric approach in tackling global challenges.
• New Theatres of Conflict: Cyber, Maritime, and Space
  • PM Modi underscored the emergence of cyber, maritime, and space as new conflict arenas, alongside traditional threats like terrorism.
  • He called for global digital governance to ensure the protection of national sovereignty and integrity.
  • He also stressed the importance of balanced, global regulation for the safe and responsible use of technology.
• India’s Commitment to Sustainable Development and Global South
  • Reflecting on India’s success in lifting 250 million people out of poverty, PM Modi highlighted the country’s achievements in sustainable development and expressed readiness to share this experience with the Global South.
  • He reaffirmed India's belief in "One Earth, One Family, One Future", as demonstrated in initiatives like One Earth, One Health and One Sun, One World, One Grid.
• India’s Role in Global Governance Reforms
  • Modi emphasized the importance of reforming international institutions like the UN Security Council, aligning with India’s aspiration for permanent membership.
  • He cited the inclusion of the African Union in the G20 under India’s presidency as an example of such reforms, calling it a step toward making global governance more inclusive.
• Digital Infrastructure for Global Good
  • PM Modi advocated for digital public infrastructure to serve as a bridge for global good, offering India's digital infrastructure to the world.
  • He stressed that global action must match global ambition in areas such as cyber, maritime, and space security.

Q.1. What were the key themes of PM Modi's address at the 79th UNGA?

PM Modi focused on collective strength for global peace, reforms in global institutions, and the need for global digital governance to tackle emerging threats like cyber, maritime, and space conflicts.

Q.2. How did PM Modi link India’s progress to the Global South at the UNGA?

Modi highlighted India’s success in lifting 250 million people out of poverty and offered to share these development experiences with the Global South to promote sustainable growth globally.

Source: Humanity’s success lies in our collective strength, not in the battlefield: PM Modi at Summit of the Future at UN | United Nations | UN Women | MEA