Ministers Valtonen and Tavio to attend high-level week of UN General Assembly in New York

Ministers Valtonen and Tavio to attend high-level week of UN General Assembly in New York

The high-level meetings of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 80) will start in New York on 22 September 2025. Finland's delegation will be led by President of the Republic Alexander Stubb, who will deliver Finland's statement at the general debate on 24 September. The deputy heads of the delegation are Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio, Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen and Minister of the Environment and Climate Sari Multala.

This year, the General Assembly's high-level week will highlight Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and the debate on solutions to the war, along with the acute situation in Gaza and the conference on advancing the two-state solution. The reform of the UN system will also be discussed. Several high-level events will be organised during the week, including the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration to promote equality for women and girls, the Climate Summit and the meeting on noncommunicable diseases.

The Ministers will attend these high-level events and have bilateral meetings with their colleagues and representatives of the UN. Foreign Minister Valtonen's programme will focus on current crises, especially support for Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, mediation and strengthening multilateral cooperation in the current challenging global situation. Minister Valtonen will also have several bilateral meetings with foreign ministers of other countries.

Minister Tavio's programme highlights the private sector's role, and digitalisation and new technologies as ways of promoting sustainable development, gender equality and the rights of women and girls. The Minister will have bilateral meetingswith the heads of key UN agencies, development finance institutions and humanitarian organisations. Minister Tavio's programme will also include events that promote Finland's commercial and economic interests.

Finland's activities at the UN are based on defending the rules-based international system and promoting multilateral cooperation. The high-level week offers a valuable opportunity to strengthen international relations, to engage in dialogue and to advance Finland's key objectives.

• Office of the President of the Republic of Finland, press release 18.9.2025