New UN General Assembly President Khalilur Rahman opens 81st session, pledging to restore trust
In an era when the world is torn by conflicts and trust in international institutions is eroding, the United Nations is entering its ninth decade. Restoring trust is becoming not just a diplomatic task but a condition for the survival of multilateralism. The new President of the General Assembly, Khalilur Rahman, is taking on this mission, promising to revive faith in collective action and prove that the UN can work for all.
Rahman took the oath of office and received the gavel of the Assembly President at the closing meeting of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly held earlier that day. In his speech at the opening of the 81st session at UN Headquarters in New York, Rahman said he was taking on responsibility at an important moment for the United Nations.
According to him, as the world body enters its ninth decade, many achievements deserve recognition, while at the same time it faces serious challenges. “Conflicts continue to cause immense human suffering. Development gains remain weak and fragile. Climate impacts are intensifying. Together, these challenges have put trust in multilateral cooperation under enormous pressure,” he said.
He stated that his main promise for the 81st session is to work tirelessly to restore trust in the organization, on which the success of collective action by member states ultimately depends. This conviction underlies the theme of the 81st session: “Restoring trust, governing transformations: a United Nations that works for all.” Focusing on restoring trust, the 81st session of the UN General Assembly will focus its work on six priorities: strengthening peace and security, accelerating sustainable development, stepping up action to combat climate change, advancing human rights, promoting technological transformations that serve people worldwide, and restoring trust in multilateral cooperation, he said.
Rahman said he would continue to support the UN reform process, acting as a bridge between member states and the Secretary-General and his team. Regarding the selection of the next Secretary-General, which began during the 80th session of the UN General Assembly and will conclude during the 81st session, Rahman said he would ensure fairness, inclusiveness and transparency of the process, fully complying with existing rules and Article 97 of the UN Charter.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres in his speech said that the global problem-solving system is more important than ever in these turbulent times, when the world faces conflicts, divisions, the risk of nuclear escalation, persistent poverty and inequality, worsening climate chaos and sluggish progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The number of displaced persons is approaching record levels. Human suffering is increasing while aid and development funding is sharply declining. The institutions of the multilateral system, from the UN Security Council to the international financial architecture, are struggling to cope with current challenges.
International law and human rights, which are the foundation of the United Nations, are too often trampled with impunity. And geopolitical distrust and suspicion continue to hinder the effective solutions that are needed and undermine people’s faith in the possibilities of global cooperation, he added. Guterres expressed hope that under Rahman’s leadership, the UN General Assembly, through diplomacy, dialogue and cooperation, can restore the trust and integrity that are lacking in contemporary geopolitics and provide the peoples of the world with a better, healthier and more peaceful future.
As reported by CCTV+, the opening of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly has become an important event amid growing global challenges. The new President, Khalilur Rahman, promised to work tirelessly to restore trust in the organization, while Secretary-General António Guterres called for diplomacy and cooperation to ensure a better future for the peoples of the world.
