Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to deliver a speech at the UN’s Summit of the Future on September 23 but will not attend the annual high-level meeting of the General Assembly, according to updated UN schedules. Initially slated to speak on September 26 at the General Assembly session, Modi will now be replaced by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who will address the meeting on September 28.
After joining US President Joe Biden for the Quad Summit in Delaware on Saturday, PM Modi is scheduled to address a diaspora rally in Uniondale, New York, titled “Modi and US: Progress Together.” The rally has drawn over 25,000 ticket requests, as per the event organizers.
Post-rally, Modi will meet with several business and world leaders, continuing his active global diplomatic engagement. With his focus on amplifying the voice of the Global South, Modi has garnered widespread attention from international leaders seeking discussions with him.
The Quad meeting featuring Modi, US President Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida marks a significant milestone for Biden and Kishida, both of whom are stepping down from leadership roles soon. At the summit, the four nations will work to promote peace and development in the Indo-Pacific, including plans for joint Coast Guard patrols to counter China’s growing influence in the region.
The Summit of the Future, organized by the UN, aims to chart a future path for global cooperation and address emerging challenges. World leaders are expected to adopt the “Pact of the Future,” a forward-looking agreement that includes a Global Digital Compact focused on the opportunities and risks posed by technology.
Modi will speak at the summit on Sunday, listed as the 35th of 72 speakers for the morning session. Depending on the pace of the speeches, Modi is expected to address the gathering around noon local time.
As for the annual high-level General Assembly meeting, it kicks off on September 24 with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva followed by US President Joe Biden. On September 28, EAM Jaishankar will represent India at the afternoon session, expected to speak around 4:30 p.m. local time. Jaishankar will also hold bilateral talks with various leaders and attend group meetings during the Assembly.
Notably absent from both the summit and the high-level meeting are Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. China’s Vice President Han Zheng and Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will attend in their place. Similarly, many leaders are only attending one of the two summits, including Biden and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The Summit of the Future will also see participation from several international and regional organizations, including the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
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