'India will focus on reformed multilateralism at UNGA'

India's Ambassador to the United Nations, Syed Akbaruddin, said that India will focus on reformed multilateralism at the United Nations General Assembly.

"There are threats and challenges facing the multilateral system. We are by tradition and inclination multilateralist and we will be helpful in articulating our positions on how we need to strengthen the multilateral system and move towards a reformed multilateralism," he said while addressing the media here.

"Second, Secretary General feels climate change is perhaps the most serious of threats that we're facing. India has a good story to tell. So climate action will be our second priority," he added.

Speaking on health care and India's focus in the area, Akbaruddin said, "This general assembly will address several issues of global health. Non-communicable diseases, Tuberculosis and later in the assembly, India will focus on deliberations relating to universal health coverage. The Prime Minister launched Ayushman Bharat - our health coverage scheme, which covers 500 million people, and is the most ambitious such schemes in the world, the entire global fraternity is looking towards it."

Akbaruddin further noted that sustainable development would be key to India's approach in international cooperation.

"By and large, India is a developing country. We have areas where we have developed rather fast, but there are other areas we are focused on developing. This year, we are going to have a South-South conference in Buenos Aires. South-South cooperation is emerging as a major area of our activity both in UN and in other areas. Digital cooperation will also be a major issue as we proceed during the course of this session," he added.

On the issue of peace and security, he said, "India is one of the largest troop-contributing countries, a country which has a history of sending our troops to as many as 49 peacekeeping operations."

It was briefed that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, apart from participating in the United Nation General Assembly Debate on September 25, will also attend United States President Donald Trump's event on a call for action against the global drug problem. She will also attend the Nelson Mandela peace conference, and attend meetings of the G4, IBSA, BRICS and SAARC.