• Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden will lead the UK delegation to New York for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High Level Week.
• He and other ministers will explain how the UK is stepping up its efforts to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, a commitment to achieve the world would become fairer, healthier and more prosperous.
• Foreign Secretary James Cleverly will arrive in New York today (Sunday) to meet with counterparts from the US, France, Egypt, Barbados and Indonesia, as well as attend G7 and migration meetings.

The world must recommit to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) if they are to be achieved by 2030, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden will tell the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York next week.

Approaching the halfway point from the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015. to the 2030 target, he, the Foreign Secretary and the wider UK delegation will make it clear that there is an urgent need for countries to make a clear and loud commitment to the goals to make the world. healthier, fairer and more prosperous.

The Deputy Prime Minister will head the UK delegation on Tuesday and travel to New York to attend the UN Security Council meeting on Thursday. He will attend a UN Security Council meeting on multilateralism and Ukraine on Wednesday to reaffirm our strong support for Ukraine and hold Russia accountable for its illegal actions in Ukraine and its cynical attempts to undermine global food supplies and security, causing suffering around the world. in the poorest countries of the world.

The Deputy Prime Minister will also deliver the UK’s address to the General Assembly on Friday, where he will call on countries to work together to share the benefits of revolutionary new technologies such as artificial intelligence and prevent their misuse. He will also host AI meetings with leading technology companies and discuss AI regulation with other countries ahead of the UK AI Safety Summit.

He will also attend UN meetings on promoting global health and announce new UK support for strengthening health systems. He will also discuss climate action and growing global investment in Africa.

The Foreign Secretary, who arrives in New York tomorrow (Sunday), will meet key allies and stress the need to keep up pressure on Russia, letting Putin know he cannot “outrun” international support for Ukraine.

He is expected to meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi tomorrow (Monday) and Tuesday.

Tomorrow (Monday), the Foreign Secretary will co-convene an event on Artificial Intelligence (AI), chaired by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

It will bring together governments, technology companies and NGOs to discuss how artificial intelligence can accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. During the visit, the Deputy Prime Minister will also discuss the challenges and opportunities of AI with global partners and US-based UK and US technology companies, ahead of the UK’s AI Security Summit in November.

Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said:

“I am delighted to lead the UK delegation to the UN General Assembly on behalf of the Prime Minister.

“The UK has always worked closely with the UN to create a safer, healthier and more prosperous world. This year I hope to be able to discuss the challenges and opportunities of AI so that the benefits of this revolutionary technology can be truly felt around the world, and how Britain can be at the forefront of that effort.

“In addition, we will announce new support to tackle climate change, boost global economic growth and prevent future pandemics.”

“However, UN principles are being challenged by Russia’s appalling actions in Ukraine: deliberately attacking and terrorizing civilians and seeking to hold the world to ransom by blocking vital food supplies.”

“In the Security Council, I will challenge Russia and other states to strengthen international support for the freedom of Ukraine.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

“Only a functioning multilateral system can solve the complex and interconnected global challenges we face. However, our system is under stress, especially due to intensifying geopolitical competition. The SDGs are seriously off track, and we need to come together to recommit and accelerate their 2030 targets.

“Russia is a permanent member of the UN Security Council, but its invasion of Ukraine is a clear violation of the UN Charter. Our citizens rightly demand curbing illegal migration and promoting economic growth. Climate change and new technologies such as artificial intelligence present not only significant risks but also unprecedented opportunities.

“Putin is counting on the false assumption that he can outlast international support for Ukraine. We will not be deterred. It is in all of our interests to ensure that Russia is defeated and evicted from the sovereign territory of Ukraine as soon as possible.