New UNGA President Opens 81st Session, Pledging To Rebuild Global Trust & Managing Transformation
UNITED NATIONS, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 9th Sep, 2026) The 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly opened in New York with Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman assuming the presidency and calling for a more effective and future-ready UN.
Rahman, taking over from outgoing President Annalena Baerbock of Germany, stated that the world had significantly evolved since the UN’s establishment in 1945, emphasizing the need to restore trust and strengthen multilateralism. He said:
"This is not 1945. This is the 81st session. The world has moved on."
He outlined key priorities for the session, including peace and security, sustainable development, climate action, human rights, responsible AI use, and UN reform.
The high-level general debate will take place from September 22 to 26, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif scheduled to address the session on September 25.
This session occurs against a backdrop of ongoing global conflicts, financial challenges for the UN, and preparations for the election of a new Secretary-General as Antonio Guterres‘ term ends on December 31, 2026.
Outgoing president Baerbock defended the UN’s relevance, arguing that despite its shortcomings, "not a single day, not a single country, would be better off without the UN."
