President of the United Nations General Assembly Dennis Francis will begin a five-day official visit to India from Monday.

He will hold bilateral discussions with the leadership and representatives of the Indian Government, engage with civil society, leading think tanks, embark on field visits and participate in events related to sustainability, multilateralism, accessibility, and digital public infrastructure, among other engagements, a press note said on Sunday.

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In New Delhi, Mr Francis will hold a bilateral meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. The discussions are expected to focus on the PGA’s priorities, ongoing geopolitical tensions, and India’s engagement and contribution to the United Nations, reiteration of invitation to participate in the inaugural Sustainability Week (15-19 April in New York) and reflections on the Summit of the Future, which will take place in September in New York.

He will lay a wreath at Raj Ghat, Mahatma Gandhi’s Memorial and attend public engagements in New Delhi, including an address at the Indian Council of World Affairs under the theme of his Presidency: “Peace, Progress, Prosperity, and Sustainability.”

He will deliver remarks at an event on Digital Public Infrastructure highlighting India’s leadership in championing the interests of the Global South and sharing experiences on further efforts to close the digital divide.

Furthermore, Mr Francis will visit the city of Jaipur, where he is expected to appreciate the work of an NGO specialised at providing affordable and accessible prosthetic limbs. He will also use the opportunity of his visit to meet with key state government officials.

In the last part of his official visit, the UN official will travel to Mumbai to participate in a Fireside Chat event with India’s think tank on “New Orientation for Reformed Multilateralism”. He will also be received at the National Stock Exchange in Mumbai.

As part of his official travels, he will engage with the UN Country Team led by Mr Shombi Sharp, the UN Resident Coordinator in India, to appreciate the work by the UN system on the ground.