UN General Assembly President, Dennis Francis, to undertake official visit to Japan

New York, 8 February 2024

 The President of the United Nations General Assembly (PGA), H.E. Mr. Dennis Francis, will travel to Japan from February 11-15, 2024, at the invitation of the country’s Government.

The PGA will hold bilateral meetings with senior Japanese Government officials and parliamentarians, as well as engage with representatives of civil society and academia.

The PGA intends to use the opportunity of his visit to further  strengthen and foster cooperation  between Japan and the United Nations on a range of global issues, while promoting peace, prosperity, progress, and sustainability – the four priorities of his Presidency.

In Tokyo,  the PGA will hold a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister, H.E. Mr. Fumio Kushida, focusing on global challenges, as well as efforts to build on the already strong relationship between Japan and the United Nations.

The PGA will also hold a separate bilateral meeting with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Ms. Yoko Kamikawa, to exchange views on global and regional issues, the role of the General Assembly in uniting the international community, as well as topics on its agenda, including UN Security Council reform.

The PGA will also address a symposium hosted by the Institute for Future Initiatives at the University of Tokyo, to be followed by a question-and-answer session.

Throughout his engagements, the PGA  will focus on Japan’s strong partnership in advancing transformative, human-centred solutions in the areas of sustainable development, international peace and security, and strengthened multilateralism.

At a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, the PGA is expected to highlight in particular the importance of solidarity, inclusion and gender equality, with a strong emphasis on women, peace and security.

On 12 February, the PGA will visit Hiroshima, where he will lay a wreath in honour of those who perished in the atomic bombing in 1945, as well as the legacy of those who survived. He will tour the Peace Memorial Museum and participate in a dialogue with a hibakusha, a survivor of the bombing.

The PGA official visit will feature a stop-over in Nara and Kyoto, recognizing the role of Japan’s deep-rooted cultural and historical heritage in its embrace of innovation and relentless pursuit of human progress.

On 15 February, the PGA will engage with  the press at the Japan National Press Club before returning to New York.

His delegation includes his Chef de Cabinet, a Senior Adviser and a Communications Adviser. Travel costs are covered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and the OPGA Trust Fund.