Preparations for upcoming annual high-level debate underway at UN Headquarters

Preparations are underway at UN Headquarters in New York to prepare for the week-long annual high-level debate of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, which is set to begin next Tuesday, a UN spokesman told reporters here Friday.

As of Sept. 15, 86 heads of state have signed up for the General Debate of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, one crown prince, five vice presidents, 49 heads of government, 51 ministers and three observers for a total of 195, which is two more than last year, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here.

Some 1,100 bilateral requests have been received by the UN Department for General Assembly and Conference Management and 545 meetings have been requested, which include special side events and regularly scheduled meetings, he said.

"Thus far, the secretary-general has 124 bilaterals planned and he will participate in 62 events," Dujarric said.

The General Assembly meets in regular session intensively from September to December each year. At the beginning of each regular session, the assembly holds a general debate, often addressed by heads of state and government to express their views on pressing international issues.

The theme of this year's general debate is "the Sustainable Development Goals: a universal push to transform our world."

Brazil is always the first member state to speak in the general debate since the 10th session of the General Assembly in 1955; the United States as the host country is the second member state to take the floor.

For all other member states, the speaking order is based on the level of representation, preference and other criteria such as geographic balance. Enditem