UNGA President Philemon Yang visit to India

The President of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Philemon Yang was on a four-day visit to India from 4-7 February 2025.

It was the first official visit of Philemon Yang to India after he was elected as the President of the United Nations General Assembly on 24 June 2024.

He will be the President of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly from September 2024 until September 2025.

Before being elected as the President of the United Nations General Assembly, Philemon Yang served as the Prime Minister of the African country of Cameroon.

Highlights of Philemon Yang's Visit to India

Philemon Yang visited India at the invitation of the External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar.

He first visited New Delhi and then Bengaluru.

During his visit to Bengaluru, he visited the Indian Institute of Science campus and the headquarters of the software company Infosys.

New Delhi Visit 

During his visit to New Delhi, he met President Droupadi Murmu on 6th February 2025.

During her meeting with Philemon Yang, President Murmu called for the reform of the United Nations Security Council based on the present global realities.

India wants to be a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council which at present has five permanent members - Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

Philemon Yang also met the External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar and discussed the agenda of the United Nations and global, and regional issues. 

About the United Nations General Assembly 

The United Nations General Assembly is the main body to discuss world and regional issues, and policymaking, and is most the representative organ of the United Nations.

All the 193 member countries of the United Nations are members of the General Assembly.

The session of the General Assembly starts in September at its headquarters in New York, the United States of America.

During the start of the session, many world leaders gather to address the session and participate in its debate.

Decisions on important matters -peace and security, admission of new members, and budgetary matters-  require a two-thirds majority of the General Assembly. 

On the rest of the matters, a simple majority is required in the General Assembly.

Every year the General Assembly elects its President for a term of one year.

• Only one Indian, Mrs. Vijay Laxmi Pandit has been elected as the President of the General Assembly.
• Mrs. Vijay Laxmi Pandit was the President of the 8th General Assembly in 1953-1954. 
• She was the first woman and only woman to date to be elected for the post.