PM Modi delivers keynote speech at the virtual ECOSOC Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday virtually addressed the United Nations at the High-Level Segment of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), his first since India was overwhelmingly elected as a non-permanent member of the powerful Security Council last month.

The Prime Minister in his address lauded India’s effort in fighting COVID-19 and said “Our motto is ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas, Sabka Vishwas’ – meaning ‘Together, for everyone’s growth, with everyone’s trust’. This resonates with the core SDG principle of leaving no one behind.”

Key Highlights

• The annual High-level Segment convenes a diverse group of high-level representatives from the government, the private sector, the civil society, and academia, a PMO statement said.
  
• The theme of this year’s High-level Segment is “Multilateralism after COVID19: What kind of UN do we need at the 75th anniversary”.
  
• This will be the first opportunity for PM Modi to address the broader UN membership since India’s overwhelming election as a non-permanent member of the Security Council on June 17 for the term 2021-22.
  
• Set against the changing international environment and the COVID-19 pandemic, the 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, it pointed out.

Key points from Modi’s Address

• ‘While celebrating 75 years of UN, let us pledge to reform global multilateral system, says PM Modi at ECOSOC session’
• ‘Only reformed multilateralism with reformed UN at its center can meet aspirations of humanity’
• ‘In India, we have tried to make the fight against the pandemic a people’s movement’
• ‘In fight against COVID, our grass-roots health system is helping India ensure one of the best recovery rates in the world’.

SOURCE:The New Indian Express

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