For the first time, the Prime Minister will address the larger UN membership since India’s election as a non-permanent member of the Security Council

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the High-level segment of the UN Economic and Social Council along with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Friday.

This will be the first time for the Prime Minister to address the larger UN membership since India’s overwhelming election as a non-permanent member of the Security Council on June 17for 2021-22 term.

The annual High-level Segment convenes a diverse group of high-level representatives from the government, the private sector, civil society and academia.

The theme of this year’s High-level Segment is “Multilateralism after COVID19: What kind of UN do we need at the 75th anniversary”.

According to the Ministry of External Affair, set against the changing international environment and the COVID-19 pandemic, this session will focus on critical forces shaping the course of multilateralism and explore ways to bolster the global agenda through strong leadership, effective international institutions, a broadening of participation and enhanced significance of global public goods.

"The theme of the High-Level Segment of the ECOSOC, on the 75th Anniversary of the founding of the UN, also resonates with India’s Security Council priority, wherein we have called for ‘reformed multilateralism’ in a post-COVID-19 world," the MEA said in its press note.

It also recalls India’s role, as the holder of the inaugural Presidency of ECOSOC (Sir Ramaswami Mudaliar, in 1946).

The PM had earlier delivered the keynote address virtually at the 70th anniversary of ECOSOC in January 2016.