The 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) was officially opened yesterday by United States President Joe Biden in New York, with over 200 Heads of State and Government in attendance, including Malawi’s President, Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera. President Chakwera is scheduled to address the global body on Thursday, September 26, 2024, marking a significant moment as he will be the first speaker to take the podium on that day.
This year’s Assembly is being hailed as a critical milestone in the international community’s efforts to accelerate progress towards the attainment of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the lead-up to the official opening, world leaders gathered for the Summit for the Future two days ago, discussing the gaps and challenges in global governance that have been exposed by recent international shocks.
During his stay in the United States, President Chakwera has been actively engaged in high-level diplomatic meetings. He has met with the outgoing UN Secretary-General António Guterres, held bilateral discussions with Latvia’s President Edgars Rinkēvičs, and hosted the second edition of the Malawi-Partners Conference. Additionally, he delivered a keynote address at Columbia University, focusing on agriculture and development issues. However, the highlight of his visit will undoubtedly be his address at the General Assembly on Thursday.
President Chakwera’s address is highly anticipated as he is expected to outline Malawi’s commitment to global governance and sustainable development goals, while also reflecting on the country’s achievements and challenges in these areas. The speech will further solidify Malawi’s voice on the international stage, especially in light of the critical discussions taking place at this year’s UNGA.
