Vice President Faisal Naseem on Friday met with the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The meeting took place at the UN Headquarters in New York City, United States of America.
Speaking with the Vice President, Secretary-General Guterres noted the outstanding role of the President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNPGA), Abdulla Shahid. The Vice President echoed these sentiments, expressing his admiration and applauding the work of the UNPGA.
The Secretary-General went on to highlight that the Maldives is on the frontline of climate action and requires huge investments on this front, expressing his support and solidarity with the Maldives on such matters. On this note, the Vice President discussed the Maldives' need for increased climate financing, as well as the role of developed countries in assisting the Maldives and other vulnerable states.
The Vice President briefed the Secretary-General about the economic impacts faced by the Maldives due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He went on to commend the Secretary-General for his outstanding leadership throughout the pandemic. Stressing the need for concerted efforts of every country to combat the pandemic, the Vice President stressed the need for financial assistance for the Maldives to overcome the economic impacts.
Reflecting on this, the Secretary-General cited a lack of political will from the top economies towards global issues, especially those that threaten vulnerable states, and expressed his disappointment. He then expressed his determination to continue fighting for the rights of small and vulnerable nations, as well as his commitment to climate action. He then asked the Vice President to convey his best wishes to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
Concluding the meeting, the Vice President reiterated his calls for strengthened climate action and stressed that there can be no further delays. The Vice President also spoke with the Secretary-General about women's empowerment and facilitating opportunities for the youth.
