The President of the 76th Session of the General Assembly H.E. Abdulla Shahid was hosted at a breakfast meeting on 7 February 2022 by Singapore¡¯s Minister for Foreign Affairs H.E. Dr Vivian Balakrishnan. The President and the Minister exchanged views on the state of multilateralism and the role of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ within it. Both noted the continued progress on Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Reform.
Turning to the global fight against COVID-19, the Minister outlined progress that Singapore has made in vaccinating its population against the coronavirus, sharing that more than 90% of its eligible population had been vaccinated. They shared views on the impact of the pandemic, including on the tourism industry.
The President of the General Assembly underscored the importance of universal vaccination in the fight against COVID-19. He updated on the plans for the high-level event of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ General Assembly titled ¡°Galvanizing Momentum for Universal Vaccination,¡± which will be held?on 25 February. Both agreed on the importance of addressing vaccine equity from multiple dimensions, including availability, delivery, and costs, among others.
They exchanged views on the continued urgency of addressing the impacts of climate change given the high vulnerabilities of SIDS and other developing countries. They shared views on the role of technology and innovation in helping to mitigate and adapt to climate change, including for energy transformation. They discussed the importance of a rules-based multilateral system and international tools and mechanisms to prevent and resolve disputes, such as the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Convention on Law of the Sea (Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵCLOS).
The also exchanged views on the role of both large and small states in shoring up multilateralism and advancing progress to achieve the SDGs.
The President of the General Assembly reaffirmed his commitment to further advancing progress on the five priorities of his presidency and expressed appreciation for the role played by Singapore within the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ and its related bodies.
7 February 2022