PM Modi's US visit to end this week, UNGA address on Friday

In what may be considered the grand finale of Prime Minister Modi's week-long United States visit, he will address the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday evening. This will be his second time addressing the world body since 2014. In his last speech, he presented the idea of a 'Yoga Day', which is now celebrated annually across the world on June 21.

The Prime Minister is expected to strongly raise the issues of terrorism and climate change. Ever since he landed in the United States on Saturday, the PM has been busy attending bilateral meetings with leaders from across the world.

During his two-city visit to Houston and New York, he reached out to the Indian diaspora, spoke at the Climate Change Summit, and met the CEOs of global conglomerates. He also won the Global Goalkeeper Award for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. He dedicated the award to the "130 crore people of India and the collective endeavours of our nation to improve cleanliness".

PM Modi started the week by addressing the United Nations Climate Change Summit where he highlighted the Indian government's climate action policies and called for a global movement to bring about change. He said, "We believe that an ounce of practice is worth more than a ton of preaching".

On Tuesday, he inaugurated the Gandhi Solar Park atop the UN Building and spoke at a lecture on the relevance of Mahatma Gandhi and his beliefs in the contemporary world.

He said, "Mahatma Gandhi never held positions of power. Yet, he motivates people around the world. Millions of people, several nations drew strength from his ideals and attained freedom."

The event was attended by the Secretary-General of the UN António Guterres, President of South Korea Moon Jae-in, Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong, Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina, Jamaica's PM Andrew Holness, and Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern.

Modi also reached out to small Island countries at the India Pacific Island Meet and the 1st India Caribbean Summit. Additionally, he has conducted bilateral meetings with more than ten global leaders including the US President Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

On Thursday the prime minister will meet with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. On Friday, he is slated to meet leaders from neighbouring countries including Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina.