During his landmark address at the United Nations Summit of the Future on September 23, 2024, in New York, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the critical need for global peace, a people-centric approach, multilateral reforms, and the importance of dialogue and diplomacy. He also reaffirmed India’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals and strongly advocated for greater representation of the Global South in global governance.
Addressing world leaders on behalf of 1.4 billion Indians, Prime Minister Modi reflected on India’s landmark election in June 2024, the largest in history. He expressed gratitude to the people of India for giving him the opportunity to serve a third consecutive term and emphasized that he brings the “voice of one-sixth of humanity” to the global stage.
Focusing on the future of the world, PM Modi noted “We must accord the highest priority to a Human centric approach. While prioritizing sustainable development, we must also ensure human welfare, food and health security. By lifting 250 million people out of poverty in India, we have demonstrated that Sustainable Development can be Successful. And we are ready to share this experience of our success with the entire Global South.”
PM Modi further remarked that humanity’s success lies in collective strength, not on battlefield, and called for reforms in global institutions to ensure their relevance, emphasizing that “Reform is the key to relevance.” He pointed to the African Union’s permanent membership in the G20, granted during the New Delhi summit, as a significant step in this direction.
The Prime Minister also noted that while terrorism remains a serious threat to global peace and security, new arenas of conflict are emerging in areas like cyber, maritime, and space. He emphasized the need for “Global Action to match Global Ambition,” on these critical issues.
He also reminded the world forum that there is a need for balanced regulation for the safe and responsible use of technology, noting “We need global digital governance, which ensures that national sovereignty and integrity are upheld. Digital Public Infrastructure should be a Bridge, not a Barrier. For Global Good, India is ready to share its digital public infrastructure with the entire world.”
He emphasized that for India, the phrase “One Earth, One Family, One Future,” represents a deep commitment. This dedication is evident in India’s initiatives like “One Earth, One Health,” and “One Sun, One World, One Grid.”
He also conveyed that India would continue to act through “thought, words, and deeds,” to safeguard the rights of all humanity and promote global prosperity.
World leaders have also adopted a Pact for the Future, which encompasses a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations. This Pact represents the outcome of a comprehensive and inclusive process spanning several years, aimed at updating international cooperation to address the current realities and future challenges.
“The Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations open the door to new opportunities and untapped possibilities,” said United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres during his remarks at the opening of the Summit of the Future.
The President of the General Assembly, Philémon Yang, noted that the Pact would “lay the foundations for a sustainable, just, and peaceful global order – for all peoples and nations.”
