Prime Minister Bainimarama Leads (Virtual) Participation at the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 76)

Prime Minister Honourable Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama is leading Fiji’s delegation to the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 76) High-level week which begins this week in New York from Monday 20 till Tuesday 28 September 2021.

This is the first UN General Assembly at which world leaders will be present in person or attend the sessions virtually.

The UNGA 76 is based on theme: “Building resilience through hope to recover from COVID-19; rebuild sustainably; respond to the needs of the planet; respect the rights of people; and revitalize the United Nations”.

Prime Minister Bainimarama said it’s a week during which world leaders meet as a group to reflect on the great common global challenges of the day and that Fiji looks forward to listening to views of leaders on how the world can secure an inclusive recovery from COVID-19 pandemic and how it intends to ramp up the climate actions.

At the start of the week, Hon. Prime Minister will attend a closed meeting with 20 world leaders convened by the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The meeting will try to nudge large economies especially to renew their commitment to climate actions in the lead to COP26 that will be held in Glasgow, this November.

The Prime Minister Bainimarama in his role as Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) will participate in the Food Systems Summit, which brings to the United Nations, a year long process of national and regional discussions in Pacific and across the World. The Summit is expected to provide support for a pathway for integrated technical, policy and other actions to enhance food security, reduce vulnerability and improve health and wellbeing.

Also in his role as Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Prime Minister Bainimarama will be calling on the UN Security Council to begin to pay attention to the growing security challenges arising from climate changes across the Blue Pacific.

On Thursday 23 September, the Chair of the PIF will host a virtual Leaders meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum with the UN Secretary General and participation of the Pacific Island Forum leaders.

Prime Minister Bainimarama will address the General Debate of the UNGA held virtually on 25 September 2021 and also participate at the High-level Dialogue on Energy on 24 September 2021, along with various other events together with other Pacific leaders.

He will for the first time participate in the SDG Business Forum, which is focused on working with some of the largest Companies in the world, in assisting the developing countries to achieve their global goals through private sector investments.

Hon Prime Minister said he looks forward to a weeklong discussions on how small states can work with the UN, with the private sector and with international institutions to accelerate actions to achieve the global goals.

Further stating that Fiji and other small states had suffered the heaviest setbacks during the COVID pandemic and the UNGA High level week will enable countries to share experiences, lessons and common challenges they face.

Fiji’s Ambassador to the UN, Dr Satyendra Prasad said that Fiji “through Hon. Prime Minister, Hon Attorney General and the Minister for Defense will be engaged in many events throughout the week. Together these engagements will bring international focus on Fiji and Pacific Islands priorities at the peak global body”.

Ambassador Prasad said that at no time “in the UN’s history were so many questions asked about its ability to respond to the global challenges of our times”. He said that “COVID-19 has helped to focus on international attention not on the international institutions that we have; but more on the international institutions that we need”.

PM Bainimarama will participate in discussions that will shape the future directions of the UN. During its 75th year anniversary celebrations last year, the UN Secretary General Guterres had invited leaders and civil society to provide their views on the UN they wanted. Several thousand Fijians participated in the surveys and discussions throughout these past 12 months.

Based on these and responses from across the World, the UN Secretary General has released his report titled “Our Common Agenda”. This report proposes bold and far reaching changes in international governance.

UNGA 76 and several events associated will provide opportunities for Fiji and other Pacific islands leaders to respond to the UN Secretary General’s proposals and help to shape the next steps.

Members of the Fijian delegation to UNGA 76 includes Permanent Representative of Fiji to the United Nations in New York, Ambassador Satyendra Prasad; Permanent Secretary to the Prime Minister’s Office and Acting Permanent Secretary Foreign Affairs Mr. Yogesh Karan and Deputy Secretary Foreign Affairs, Mr. Esala Nayasi.