Five-day visit of the President of the UN General Assembly to India

President of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (PGA) Dennis Francis is coming on a five-day (22-26 January) visit to India on 22 January 2024. This visit of Dennis Francis is taking place at the invitation of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

• Francis will discuss issues of mutual interest with the Foreign Minister during his visit to India.

Emphasis on making UNGA inclusive:

• There will be a discussion between the two on making the United Nations Security Council (UNGA) more inclusive. During this, India's demand to give representation to developing countries in UNGA will be specifically discussed.

State guest at Republic Day parade in Maharashtra:

• Francis will be the state government's guest at the Republic Day Parade in Maharashtra on January 26 this year.
• Apart from Mumbai, Francis will also visit Jaipur. Francis to place a wreath at the 26/11 memorial in Mumbai.
• PGA will pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in New Delhi.

Aim of PGA Dennis Francis' visit:

• PGA's visit to India presents a unique opportunity to strengthen India-UN relations. Particularly with the General Assembly, which is the most representative organ of the United Nations.
• Francis' visit aims to strengthen India's collaboration with the United Nations on national priorities and global challenges affecting the Global South.

PGA Dennis Francis' Itinerary:

• Francis is scheduled to attend a round table on India's progress in Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
• Francis is scheduled to deliver a public address on 'Multilateralism and Peace, Prosperity, Progress and Stability' at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA).
• Francis belongs to the diplomatic service of Trinidad and Tobago. Francis has announced his presidential priorities to include peace, prosperity, progress and stability.
• Csaba Korosi (Hungary) was the President of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (PGA) before Dennis Francis.

About the Indian Global Council:

• Indian Global Council is also known as the 'Indian Council of World Affairs'. It was founded as a think tank in 1943 by a group of Indian intellectuals.
• By a 2001 Act of Parliament, the Indian Council of World Affairs has been declared an Institute of National Importance.
• The Vice President of India is the ex-officio Chairman of the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA).
• ICWA serves as a forum exclusively dedicated to the study of international relations and foreign affairs.
• ICWA features world-renowned dignitaries addressing large gatherings of intellectuals.