Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Education and Foreign Affairs Maliki Osman will attend the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) from Sep. 17 to 23, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in a press release.

What will the ministers be doing?

MFA said that Vivian will deliver Singapore’s national statement at the General Debate of the UNGA on Sep. 22.

Vivian will also participate in the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) Leaders’ Meeting and co-convene an event on Artificial Intelligence for Accelerating Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In addition, he will also sign the Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction.

Vivian will also host several high-level events, including the 16th Global Governance Group (3G) Ministerial Meeting, a Ministerial lunch for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and a reception for the Forum of Small States.

Maliki will represent Singapore at the Summit of the Future Ministerial Preparatory Meeting, SDG Summit, as well as the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting.

"Both Ministers will have a series of bilateral meetings with UN officials, foreign counterparts and US interlocutors based in New York," the ministry added.

78th UN General Assembly

According to the UN Foundation, the SDG Summit will be a central UNGA 78 event where leaders and communities will come together to reaffirm their commitment to achieving the 2030 Agenda and the 17 SDGs— no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, amongst others.

The General Debate which has the theme — “Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all”— takes place from Sep. 19 to 23 and Sep. 26 and the SDG Summit will take place on Sep. 18 and 19.

Top images via Vivian Balakrishnan and Maliki Osman's FB.