– As delivered –

Statement by H.E. Tijjani Muhammad Bande, President of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly

25 September 2019

Your Excellency, Antonio Rivas, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Paraguay and Global Chair of the Group of LLDCs,

Honorable Ministers,

Madam Under Secretary-General for LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS

Dear colleagues,

Thank you for inviting me to this annual meeting on Landlocked Developing Countries. Today’s meeting is of particular importance as we look ahead to the Mid-term Review of the Vienna Programme of Action, which will take place in the coming months.

I thank Member States for their collective action with regard to the draft political declaration that will be adopted later this year. In particular, I thank the Permanent Representatives of Austria and Bhutan for their leadership throughout the negotiations.

As we enter the Decade of Implementation of Agenda 2030, the challenges facing Landlocked Developing Countries are clear.

We need collective action in order to implement Agenda 2030. Our partners are not just here in this room – we must mobilize the private sector and reach out to all stakeholders in these tasks ahead.

As Member States we must live up to our responsibility to our communities. As we move towards the mid-term review, I thank you for engaging in valuable exchanges in regional dialogues which have taken place.

I am encouraged that Member States are taking the first steps toward appropriate actions, namely:

  • The Political Declaration adopted at yesterday’s SDG Summit.
  • The BAPA+40 conference held in Buenos Aires; and,
  • The Financing for Development Forum.

Advancing sustainable development remains a top priority for the 74th session of the General Assembly. Mindful of the inter-connectedness and indivisibility of this comprehensive framework, I will endeavor to provide the necessary leadership on all goals, with some focus on issues related to poverty eradication, quality education, climate action and inclusion.

I will promote partnerships and galvanize the needed engagement from all stakeholders in order to reduce inequality, poverty and hunger globally. Meeting the ultimate objective of “leaving no one behind” would depend on the way we address the needs of the most vulnerable people and countries indeed.

As we enter the Decade of Implementation of Agenda 2030, the challenges facing Landlocked Developing Countries are clear. We need collective action in order to implement Agenda 2030. Our partners are not just here in this room – we must mobilise the private sector and reach out to all stakeholders in these tasks ahead

Tijjani Muhammad Bande

President of the UN General Assembly

This week, I had the privilege of presiding over a number of important Summits and high-level events dealing with critical issues for the 2030 agenda. The outcome of the deliberations will guide our work moving forward.

Our world today is marked by significant changes – climate change, migration, and new technologies.  Poverty and inequality are becoming increasingly complex issues due to these phenomena. We must act collectively to ensure that our solutions meet the needs of the crises of today.

We enter discussions today, with the roadmap of the Sustainable Development Goals leading our way. I assure you, you have my full support in all of your endeavors along the path toward 2030.

I encourage your active participation in the mid-term review, and look forward to seeing you all in December.

I thank you.