‘Choose to Be Hopeful’: Guterres Urges Cooperation Ahead of His Final UN General Assembly

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged the world to hold on to hope and strengthen international cooperation as he prepares for his final UN General Assembly as UN chief.

In a message posted on X on Sunday, Guterres reflected on the challenges confronting people worldwide and called for renewed efforts towards a better future. His tenure concludes later this year.

“In these difficult times, we have to choose to be hopeful, not hopeless. We cannot give up fighting for a better world for all—now more than ever,” he said.

The appeal comes as world leaders gather in New York for the 81st UN General Assembly’s High-Level Week, with the annual General Debate scheduled for September 22–28.

A Final UNGA Appeal

Guterres has placed dialogue and collective action at the centre of his messages ahead of the gathering.

“Come together for peace, dignity, justice, and humanity. Only with international cooperation can we build a better world. We should never give up on fighting for it,” he said in a separate video message.

Describing this as his last UNGA as Secretary-General, he reiterated that international dialogue and cooperation were needed “now more than ever” and pledged to continue working for a better world.

The session is being held under the theme “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all”, with Bangladesh’s Khalilur Rahman presiding. Presidents, prime ministers and senior representatives from the UN’s 193 member states are gathering to set out their positions on major international issues.

Jaishankar Heads to New York

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived in Zurich on Sunday while travelling to New York for the General Assembly.

India’s Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Mridul Kumar, welcomed him at the airport, the Indian embassy said. Kumar also briefed Jaishankar on recent developments, including high-level visits involving India, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

Jaishankar’s onward journey comes ahead of the start of the General Debate on Tuesday.

As High-Level Week began, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand met Greenland’s Premier Jens-Frederik Nielsen, following up on their meeting in February.

Anand said Canada had continued to deepen ties with Greenland, including through its new consulate in Nuuk. She highlighted people-to-people connections and said the two sides would continue working together to strengthen Arctic security.

The meeting followed the announcement of a security agreement involving the United States, Denmark and Greenland.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the pact on September 18 as a “huge win”. He said it would permanently address Washington’s national security concerns in the Arctic, keep Greenland within North America’s strategic defence area and guarantee US security interests without cost to American taxpayers.

With inputs from ANI