Opening 81st General Assembly, UN Chief urges solidarity and solutions for a world in crisis

Mr. President of the General Assembly,

Congratulations, once again, on your election. 

And I thank the outgoing President — Her Excellency, Annalena Baerbock — for so ably guiding this Assembly over the last year. 

I pledge my full support to you, President Khalilur Rahman, as you take on this important role. 

Your remarkable political and diplomatic experience — together with your deep knowledge of the United Nations — are the best guarantees of success as you assume this high office. 

Throughout your distinguished career, you have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to dialogue, consensus-building and international cooperation – qualities that will serve the General Assembly well in the year ahead. 

And I welcome the theme of your Presidency — “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations that Delivers for All.” 

Rebuilding trust in the multilateral system is the defining challenge of our time. 

And I look forward to working with you, Mr. President, to continue this critical effort. 

Mr. President, Excellencies, 

In these tumultuous times, the global problem-solving system is more crucial than ever. 

We face conflicts, divisions and a risk of nuclear escalation.  

Persistent poverty and inequality. 

Worsening climate chaos. 

Technology like artificial intelligence that offers great promise but also great peril without good governance and transparency around its environmental footprint. 

And sluggish progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. 

Displacement is near record levels.

Human suffering is intensifying while funding for aid and development is being slashed. 

The institutions of the multilateral system — from the UN Security Council, to the international financial architecture — are straining to meet the moment. 

International law and human rights — the core of our Organization — are too often flouted with impunity. 

And geopolitical mistrust and suspicion continue to block the effective solutions we need — and erode people’s faith in the possibilities of global cooperation. 

But as I join you in this opening of a General Assembly session for the last time as Secretary-General, I have enormous hope thanks to the work that happens here.  

From the start, this has been the place where the world’s toughest and most consequential problems are confronted head-on. 

Under your leadership Mr. President, through diplomacy, dialogue, and collaboration, this Assembly can rebuild the trust and good faith that is missing from our geopolitics today, and ensure the people of the world inherit a better, healthier and more peaceful future. 

Excellencies,

Our direction is clear. 

The Pact for the Future and the UN80 Initiative represent a blueprint for action, solutions and bold reforms to carry our Organization into the future. 

The work of this Assembly is critical to bringing these commitments to life. 

As we embark on the 81st General Assembly, let’s meet the moment. 

Let’s live up to the great promise of this Organization, and through solidarity deliver the solutions our world needs. 

Mr. President, you can count on my full support in this vital effort. 

Thank you.