UN host countries, General Assembly President countries, and other fixed speakers deliver keynote speeches... Also speaking as MIKTA President country
[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] President Moon Jae-in will deliver a virtual speech at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly at 2 a.m. on the 23rd (Korean time). This event will be conducted using video conferencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kang Min-seok, spokesperson for the Blue House, stated on the 17th, "President Moon will participate in the UN 75th anniversary meeting on the 21st and the UN General Assembly virtual meeting on the 22nd. This will be his fourth speech since taking office."
Spokesperson Kang added, "He will deliver the 9th keynote speech on the 22nd at 1 p.m. local time, which is expected to be around 2 a.m. on the 23rd Korean time," and said, "He plans to emphasize international solidarity and cooperation to overcome the COVID-19 crisis and respond to climate change, and request international support for our government's efforts toward peace on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia."
The UN General Assembly is the largest event in international diplomacy, and this year marks the 75th session. It is customary for heads of state attending the UN General Assembly to hold a series of summits and exchange views on major global issues, but this year is different.
Due to the spread of COVID-19, major country leaders will participate via virtual speeches, and only one or two representatives per country, such as permanent representatives to the UN, will attend in person at the UN headquarters assembly hall. President Moon will speak ninth among the general countries, following fixed speakers from Brazil, the host country of the UN headquarters (United States), the chair country of the General Assembly (Turkey), and representatives of five regional groups.
President Moon is expected to explain South Korea's quarantine achievements, which have been recognized as exemplary in combating COVID-19, and emphasize the need for joint responses for coexistence amid the global crisis.
In this regard, UN Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres, in a letter sent to President Moon in June, stated, "South Korea's strong public health response based on extensive early diagnosis and contact tracing has become a model for other countries," and expressed gratitude for "the President's leadership in demonstrating the importance of international solidarity to the world."
At the UN 75th anniversary high-level meeting, President Moon is scheduled to speak as the chair country leader of MIKTA, a group consisting of South Korea, Mexico, Indonesia, Turkey, and Australia. He plans to evaluate the UN's contributions to international development and express his commitment to addressing issues such as COVID-19.
Additionally, there is interest in whether President Moon will make new proposals regarding peace on the Korean Peninsula at the UN General Assembly. Since direct meetings between heads of state have become difficult due to COVID-19, the UN General Assembly presents an opportunity to draw international attention to peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Previously, in his speech at the UN General Assembly in September last year, President Moon proposed "to make the Demilitarized Zone crossing the waist of the Korean Peninsula an international peace zone" to the UN and all member states, and stated, "If peace is established between South and North Korea, we will jointly pursue UNESCO World Heritage registration with North Korea."
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