EAM S Jaishankar to address high-level session of 79th UNGA in New York today

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar will address a high-level session of the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York today. The theme for the general debate is ‘Leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development, and human dignity for present and future generations’. The External Affairs Minister is in New York to lead the Indian delegation at the 79th UNGA.

Yesterday, Dr Jaishankar co-chaired the India-CELAC Foreign Ministers’ meeting alongside Honduras’ Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Reina in New York. CELAC stands for Community of Latin American and Caribbean States. The agenda included digital public infrastructure, health, clean energy, and capacity building. In a social media post, Dr Jaishankar said he highlighted possibilities for greater engagement in AI, e-mobility, space, smart agriculture, and drones. He added that India-CELAC political



cooperation and deepening economic linkages advance South-South cooperation. Dr Jaishankar noted that India and CELAC have a shared commitment to reform multilateralism.

A meeting of the India-CARICOM Foreign Ministers was also held on the sidelines of UNGA. The External Affairs Minister co-chaired the meeting with his counterpart from Dominica, Vince Henderson. The discussions were held around upgrading the India-CARICOM partnership and deepening cooperation in health, IT, FinTech, capacity building, renewables, and food security. 

Dr Jaishankar said India’s bonds with CARICOM draw from past experiences, address current needs and aspire towards a brighter future. Dr Jaishankar also held bilateral talks with his North Macedonian counterpart, Timco Mucunski. Both ministers discussed investment, connectivity, and cooperation with the region.