Dennis Francis, the President of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) called on Indian President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday when he appreciated her for India being the championing the voice of the Global South.

Welcoming the President of the General Assembly to India, the President appreciated the important initiatives being undertaken under his Presidency, including on climate change and women's empowerment.

President Murmu agreed that the theme chosen for the Presidency of 78th UNGA, “Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity”, is the need of the hour, at a time when the world is facing several challenges.

The President added that the General Assembly can contribute to supporting the Global South, including the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). She appreciated the attention given to reform of the UN Security Council, which is also a critical issue for the Global South.

After the meeting, UNGA President posted on X: "Thanked H.E. for India’s consistent and strong commitment to multilateralism, for setting an example of women-led development and for championing the voice of the Global South."

"We agreed that uplifting people who have been overlooked and marginalised, particularly during the challenging times the world is currently facing, is our shared goal," he said.