73rd session of UN General Assembly begins in New York

The 73rd session of the UN General Assembly opened on Wednesday in New York with its President, Ms María Fernanda Espinosa, pledging to use her tenure to bring the world body closer to the people. Ms Maria Espinosa was elected as the President of the General Assembly in June, succeeding Miroslav Lajčák, the President of the 72nd session, whose one-year tenure ended on Monday.

Espinosa, in her inaugural keynote address to the 73rd session of the 193-member General Assembly pledged to use her tenure to strengthen the people’s sense of ownership and support for the UN.

According to her, the need for stronger global leadership in the service of multilateralism, to ensure more peaceful, equitable and sustainable societies, would underpin her work.

“Let us proceed together, building a world more equal and free, more sustainable and respectful of nature, and more inclusive and supportive,” she said.