United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called on world leaders to strengthen international cooperation as they prepare to gather in New York for the 81st United Nations General Assembly. In a video message posted on X, Guterres emphasized the need for dialogue, cooperation, and collective action to address conflicts and other global challenges. His second term as Secretary-General ends on December 31, 2026.
Guterres made the appeal ahead of his final UNGA as Secretary-General, urging leaders to come together to promote peace, dignity, justice, and humanity. He stressed that international cooperation is crucial to building a better world and that leaders should never give up on fighting for it. The 81st UN General Assembly will bring together leaders from 193 UN member states, with the high-level week running from September 18 to 28.
The General Debate will run from September 22 to 28, with presidents, prime ministers, and other senior representatives outlining their countries' priorities. Discussions will focus on global cooperation, peace, sustainable development, and other international challenges. The assembly comes as the UN faces a range of challenges, including conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, climate change, and the need for greater international coordination on artificial intelligence.
Guterres' call for global unity comes as the world faces numerous challenges that require collective action. He emphasized that his message to world leaders is clear: "Come together for peace, dignity, justice, and humanity. Only with international cooperation can we build a better world. We should never give up on fighting for it." This will be Guterres' last UNGA as Secretary-General, and he reiterated his commitment to fighting for a better world for everyone.
The 81st UN General Assembly will provide a platform for world leaders to discuss pressing global issues and outline their countries' priorities. Kenya's President William Ruto is among the leaders attending the assembly, where he will seek investment and AI partnerships. Other leaders will also discuss ways to address conflicts, climate change, and other global challenges.
Meanwhile, former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet has withdrawn from the race to become the next UN Secretary-General. Her decision ends her bid to become the first woman to lead the world body. The UN is currently facing a range of challenges, including conflicts, climate change, and the need for greater international coordination on artificial intelligence.
As the UNGA gets underway, world leaders will have the opportunity to discuss and address pressing global issues. Guterres' call for global unity and cooperation will likely be a key theme of the assembly. The outcome of the discussions will be closely watched, as the world looks for collective action to address the numerous challenges facing the globe.
Key points
- UN Secretary-General António Guterres calls for global unity and cooperation as his term nears end.
- The 81st UN General Assembly will focus on global cooperation, peace, sustainable development, and other international challenges.
- Guterres' second term as Secretary-General ends on December 31, 2026.
