Banking News – The 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly has officially commenced. The newly elected President of the UN General Assembly, Khalilur Rahman, inaugurated the session at the UN headquarters in New York.

Addressing the inaugural session, President Rahman stated that he has assumed responsibility at a critical and challenging time for the United Nations. He noted that while achievements of the past are significant as the UN enters its ninth decade, the world is facing serious challenges.

According to him, ongoing conflicts in various regions of the world are causing immense human suffering, while development gains remain fragile and unstable. The impacts of climate change are also intensifying rapidly.

“These challenges have created enormous pressure on trust in multilateralism,” Rahman said. He stated that the decline in trust in international institutions and collective efforts must be addressed through dialogue, cooperation, and effective action.

Rahman identified his main commitment during his tenure as rebuilding trust in the United Nations. The main theme of the 81st session has been set as “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers Results for All.”

This session will focus primarily on six priorities: strengthening peace and security, accelerating sustainable development, making climate action more effective, promoting human rights, making technological transformation people-centric, and restoring trust in multilateralism.

Rahman stated that the world today is very different from 1945, so the UN must maintain its commitment to its core values and charter while adapting to change through institutional reform.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated that in the current turbulent world situation, the role of the multilateral system in solving global problems has become even more important.

He identified conflict, division and nuclear tension risks, poverty and inequality, the growing climate crisis, opportunities and risks created by artificial intelligence, and slow progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals as major challenges. According to Guterres, the number of displaced people in the world has reached record levels, humanitarian suffering is increasing, and resources available for aid and development are declining. Multilateral institutions including the UN Security Council and international financial structures are also struggling to meet current challenges.

Guterres stated that international law and human rights are being repeatedly violated, and geopolitical distrust is hindering effective international solutions. He expressed hope that under President Rahman’s leadership, the General Assembly will rebuild the declining trust and goodwill in world politics through diplomacy, dialogue, and cooperation.

Guterres presented the “Pact for the Future” and the “UN-80 Initiative” as the basis for reform and action plans for the UN’s future, stating that the 81st session must play a crucial role in implementing those commitments. “The path forward is clear. We must face this moment and move forward together, providing the solutions the world needs, in keeping with the great purpose of the United Nations,” Guterres said.