The 78th session of the UN General Assembly closed on Tuesday, concluding a tumultuous year in international diplomacy and underscoring the need for a collective resolve among nations to confront pressing challenges.

Secretary-General António Guterres said the past year had been marked by ongoing poverty, inequality and conflict, emphasizing that it was also the hottest year on record.

Addressing the session’s final plenary meeting, he highlighted the “hope and inspiration” of what could be achieved if the global community worked as one. He also applauded the leadership of General Assembly President Dennis Francis.

“The challenges facing humanity are not insurmountable if we work together,” he said.

Mr Guterres reiterated that the UN and the multilateral system can only be as effective as member states’ commitment allows.

“As we celebrate the achievements of the 78th General Assembly, let us also look to the 79th as a moment in which the world can deliver the trust, solutions and peace that our world needs,” the UN chief stated.

Addressing the Assembly for the final time in that capacity, Mr Francis, the veteran diplomat from Trinidad and Tobago, recalled key achievements of the session and the work of his presidency.

“We began the session in September with an especially hectic though successful High-Level Week – featuring the SDG Summit and High-Level Dialogue on Financing for Development, as well as a number of other significant achievements for multilateral diplomacy,” Mr Francis added.

He highlighted that a key aspect of his work was ensuring the UN’s relevance to its eight billion global constituents, having visited 31 countries and meeting with a wide range of stakeholders – from government leaders to students, women, civil society and displaced families.

“My visits to Haiti, South Sudan, and Ukraine were especially poignant, as these nations are facing conflict, insecurity, and aggression,” he said, stressing that the UN’s efforts in these regions “are truly lifesaving.”

Mr Francis added that though he was unable to meet with Israelis and Palestinians on the ground, in the vicinity of the theatre of ongoing crisis, “developments there remained uppermost in my mind.”

The meeting also saw Philemon Yang, president-elect of the 79th session of the General Assembly, take the oath of office. 

Mr Yang declared he would perform his duties truthfully as Assembly President, acting “in all loyalty, discretion and conscience.”

He committed to always exercising his authority as president in the best interests of the United Nations and in accordance with the UN Charter and code of ethics.

Mr Dennis Francis then declared the 78th session closed and handed the iconic gavel to Mr Yang.

(NAN)