鈥淭he context in which we are working,听serves to remind us of the necessity of the multilateralism system鈥�,听Volkan听Bozkir听told听delegates听sitting distanced apart in the gilded听hall听at New York Headquarters.听

He听expressed听that it was a听deep听honour听to听be听hosting听the听session,听noting the importance of meeting听in person,听鈥渟o听long as health conditions allow鈥�,听and affirmed his intension听to convene听face-to-face听meetings听as much as possible.听

While taking听the听mitigation measures听needed听to protect the health and safety of delegates and staff,听听the UN official听upheld听that in the听"business of diplomacy, there is no substitute to meeting counterparts face-to-face, to build long-term understanding of each other鈥檚 positions and forge compromise鈥�.鈥�听

Heads of State听converge online听

Mr.听Bozkir听told the plenary听that next week听the General Debate would听be听addressed by听more Heads of State听than ever before.听

He asserted that听two weeks听of听crucial High-level meetings,听鈥渨ill guide our work for the听session鈥澨齛nd听expressed听confidence that their impact听鈥渨ill not be compromised by the circumstances鈥�.听

A full agenda听

The newly minted听Assembly听president听promised to do his 鈥渦tmost to support and lead鈥澨齮he high-level meetings to commemorate the听75th anniversary of the UN; the听; a听听to promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons;听and the听Biodiversity Summi迟.听听

鈥淒uring the 75th session, we will hold two General Assembly Special Sessions鈥�,听he informed the plenary,听鈥渙ne on听COVID-19听鈥� the first Special Session convened to discuss a pandemic 鈥� and the second against corruption鈥�.听听

Mr.听Bozkir听also听set out a list of priorities for his tenure, which include reviewing the听UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy,听commemorating the听25th anniversary of the World Summit for Social Development,听and听preparing for the听Fifth UN听Conference on Least Developed Countries.听听

There will also be a听听and targets of the听听听补苍诲听Oceans Conference, together with听revitalizing the work of the Assembly,听and听discussions over听Security Council听谤别蹿辞谤尘.听

鈥淚 will also work with you to successfully implement the various mandates entrusted to me鈥�, he assured.听

A听critical year听

After听warmly congratulating听Mr.听Bozkir,听Secretary-General鈥疉nt贸nio Guterres听offered听his full support and committed partnership.听

鈥淭his year will be a critical one in the life of our Organization鈥�, he听said.听鈥淲e must continue to respond to the immediate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic by strengthening health systems and supporting the development and equitable distribution of treatments and vaccines鈥�.听

The UN chief highlighted听the need to听build a strong recovery, based on the 2030 Agenda and the,听 while continuing听the Assembly鈥檚听work across the full range of global challenges听ahead, including听peace and security,听disarmament,听human rights,听gender equality,听and sustainable development.听

Three-quarters of a century

Marking听the听75th听anniversary听milestone,听Mr. Guterres observed that the world has high expectations of the听UN as the main multilateral platform听in a rules-based international system.听

鈥淭he nature of multilateralism is changing, and I have frequently pointed to the need for a more networked and inclusive multilateralism for the 21st century鈥�, he听flagged, welcoming the听Assembly鈥檚听pledge听鈥渢o work towards consolidating trust and cohesion鈥澨齛mong Member States, major groups听of countries, and other听international organizations. 鈥�

In closing, the Secretary-General said he looked听forward to working closely with听the Assembly president听during the 75th Session,听鈥渢o address our shared objectives鈥澨齛nd听offered听the cooperation and support of听鈥渢he entire Secretariat鈥�.听

鈥淚 wish you a very successful mandate鈥�, he concluded.鈥�听

鈥楪reat strides鈥�

Outgoing听President听Tijjani听Muhammad-Bande听finished off his extraordinary year in office,听having to steer the 74th听session through the beginning of the pandemic,听by听paying听tribute to听former Secretary-General听Javier P茅rez de听Cu茅lla,听and听Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza 鈥� both of whom passed听away听in 2020.听

He thanked听the Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General for their 鈥渦nprecedented support鈥� along with Secretariat staff,听without whom the 鈥淎ssembly could not have functioned well鈥�.听

鈥淲e started this session guided by the hopes and aspirations of the people we serve鈥�, he said, noting that the Assembly has made 鈥済reat strides鈥� in听 galvanizing multilateral efforts to tackle听poverty eradication and zero hunger, quality education, climate action, and inclusion.听

COVID impact

Mr.听Muhammad-Bande听pointed out that the first High-level Meeting of the Assembly focused on global health, before anyone knew that the year would be defined by a pandemic.听

鈥淭he emergence of the novel corona virus (COVID-19) has shown that we have to continue to deepen multilateral cooperation in the health sector鈥�,听including听scaling up national and global efforts听鈥渢o build a healthier world for all鈥�, he asserted.听

He听expressed听gratitude听that,听at the onset of the pandemic,听Member States adopted two decisions听that听allowed more than 70 resolutions听to be passed,听and听the听Chairs of the Main Committees for the 75th session听to be elected.听

鈥楥hoose unity over discord鈥�

Underscoring听the importance of the听Assembly,听he recalled that听it was听鈥渇ounded upon equality of voice and vote鈥� and its resolutions听reflect the听鈥渁spirations of humanity鈥�.听

鈥淭his is听a moment of reckoning for our shared planet and future鈥�a time for action, ambition, equality, inclusion, and partnership鈥�, Mr.听Muhammad-Bande听said, stressing听the need to keep youth engaged in the Organization鈥檚听work.听

It is only in doing so can the world be 鈥渃ertain of peace, justice and development鈥�, he endorsed.听

鈥淲e must continue to thoughtfully define our actions and uphold our pledge to leave no one behind, even in the face of disagreement鈥�, he said, bowing out of office gracefully.听鈥淚ndeed, in spite of disagreement, we must practice empathy and choose unity over discord鈥�.