Remarks by the President of the UN General Assembly

H.E. Mr. Philemon Yang

at the informal meeting of the General Assembly to hear a briefing from the Secretary-General on his UN80 reform initiative

Monday, 12 May 2025

[As Delivered]

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Thank you for joining today’s briefing on the UN80 Initiative.

I thank the Secretary-General for joining us today.

Dear colleagues,

It is fair to say that this is a time of change and uncertainty. It is our responsibility to shape our collective future.

Such moments inevitably lead to anxiety and concern, and this is understandable.

Yet, they are also opportunities for renewal. They are also an opportunity to rebuild.

The challenges that come along with all these opportunities must also be accepted.

Any challenge can come with opportunities. This must be one of such moments.

There have been such moments before.

And we have always come out stronger. This time we will also come out stronger.

As we move to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, we have the chance to reflect on the past 80 years of remarkable work. Bravo.

But we also have the chance now to reaffirm the values and principles that gave rise to the United Nations, as enshrined in the Charter, and to look to the next 80 years, and beyond.

In many ways, the Pact for the Future, which this General Assembly adopted in September, has positioned us in the right direction.

The Pact emphasises that the United Nations system must be fit for the future – effective and capable.

Our collective future is in our hands.

The Secretary-General’s UN80 initiative, announced on 11 March in his letter to Member States, is an opportunity to undertake strategic reforms and improvements in line with the United Nations Charter and the Pact for the Future.

It is a chance to build the future of the UN and of multilateralism, together.

As such, it is based on ongoing consultation with Member States and the United Nations system.

Before I hand over to the Secretary-General, allow me to underscore the importance of this moment.

There will be challenging conversations and tough decisions ahead.

Change is never easy, but it can be successful and very rewarding.

We must embrace all of the changes the UN needs in order to embrace and handle the challenges we all face.

Let us be smart, efficient, collaborative, and empathetic.

Above all, let us be ever mindful of our Charter responsibility: to work for the peoples of the world.

Peoples of the world who expect us to make the United Nations successful.

And peoples who expect us to grow and evolve alongside the world we live in. 

All circumstances that affect humanity are dynamic, they keep changing all the time.

Dear colleagues, it is in all of our interests to ensure the United Nations remains effective, cost efficient and responsive to the planet it serves.

Let us make that a reality.

Thank you.

 

___

Media Contacts

 

Sharon Birch, Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly, Tel: +1 212 963 0564, M: +1 646 342 5873, Email: birchs@un.org

Dr. Mariam Shaikh, Adviser/ Social and Digital Media/Media Relations, M: +1 917 3614990, Email: mariam.shaikh@un.org

 

More Information and Updates : Website:  YouTube:  X (Twitter): Instagram:  LinkedIn:  Photo Repository: Bluesky; Weekly Highlights

Resolutions of the 79th Session – UN General Assembly