EXPLAINED: What is UN General Assembly Leaders’ Week?

World leaders are gathering this week in New York for the opening of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, or the UNGA.

Also referred to as “Leaders’ Week” – or “High-Level Week” in official U.N. speak – it is a major event on the diplomatic calendar, typically held in late September.

What exactly is the U.N. General Assembly?

After the end of World War II in 1945, the U.N. General Assembly has brought together world leaders annually to discuss vital global issues. The leaders from all 193 member states are given a chance to speak at this forum, but not all show up and send deputies instead.

The senior officials appear before the assembly to share their country’s perspective – and sometimes to take part in diplomatic wrangling on the sidelines.

At this year’s session, the issues that officials are expected to discuss range from the expanding conflict in the Middle East and Russia’s war in Ukraine, to pandemic preparedness.

Meetings on the sidelines

While the speeches are the most visible part of the UNGA, a lot of the work happens behind the scenes.

Diplomats hold private meetings on the sidelines to seek compromises on issues where their governments disagree and cooperation where they share interests.

A major theme this year is combating antimicrobial resistance, and a number of events concurrent with the UNGA session will focus on finding solutions to the problem.

Health officials have repeatedly raised alarms about the overuse of antibiotics, which is leading to strains of bacteria that current medications can’t fight.

How has the U.N. General Assembly changed?

In its earliest years, the UNGA was a key event for landmark speeches by major world leaders and for real progress toward major multilateral deals.

Recently, though, the UNGA’s ability to act as a forum for the world’s big problems has been diluted as multilateralism has receded.

Global decision-making is now dominated by smaller and exclusive groups who also meet regularly – such as the Group of Seven or Group of 20. Even bilateral meetings between the world’s major powers are often viewed as more influential in terms of impact.

Nevertheless, the UNGA remains one of the few opportunities where leaders from around the world come to the same place at the same time. This offers an unmatched chance for diplomatic engagement, especially for leaders of smaller countries who are often forgotten.

At an event in Washington last week, Daniel Kritenbrink, the assistant U.S. secretary of state for East Asia and the Pacific, said UNGA was best described as “diplomatic speed-dating on steroids” – but also “the world’-s finest forum and venue for getting work done on the margins.”

Speakers to watch this year

U.S. President Joe Biden (Tuesday morning session)

Biden will make one of his final speeches on the global stage as his time in office nears its conclusion. His Democratic Party’s nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, will contest the Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump in the Nov. 5 election. Expect Biden to focus on U.S. support for Ukraine in its war against Russia, alliances in the Indo-Pacific (with an eye on China) and furthering democracy across the world.

Bangladesh Interim Prime Minister Mohammad Yunus (Friday morning)

Yunus will deliver his first international speech since being named the country’s temporary leader after student protests dislodged long-serving Sheikh Hasina, who resigned as prime minister and fled Bangladesh on Aug. 5. Yunus , who will oversee the transitional period before fresh elections are called, is expected to ask for help to help rebuild a country with a “shattered economy” and ongoing civil unrest.

Vietnamese President To Lam (Tuesday afternoon/evening session)

Lam will give his first speech at the UNGA since being appointed leader. He previously headed the Ministry of Public Security, which has been criticized for spearheading Vietnam’s rampant human rights abuses and throwing government critics in prison.  Lam’s speech will offer a glimpse into Hanoi’s evolving foreign policy as it balances ties with Washington and Beijing.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy  (Wednesday morning)

Zelenskyy is expected to appeal to the international community for more military and economic aid in Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s 2022 invasion. He may also touch on the issue of North Korea’s arms supplies to Russia. It would be interesting to see if he mentions China, which has provided support to Russia – but which Zelenskyy has been reluctant to call out.

Pacific Island leaders (Friday)

This year could seen even more attention to China’s expanding influence in the Pacific region, which has displeased officials in Washington.

At last year’s UNGA, then-Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare delivered an acerbic speech, which went over time, criticizing the United States and praising China. Sogavare this year passed power to his foreign minister, Jeremiah Manale, whose speech Friday evening will be one to watch for both its tone and content.

Another speaker worth looking out for on Friday is Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape. His government is reportedly negotiating a controversial security deal with Beijing similar to the one the Solomon Islands inked last year that drew global focus to the region.

Radio Free Asia is an online news service affiliated with BenarNews.