Biden, UN chief address 'pressing global challenges' on sidelines of General Assembly meeting

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - US President Joe Biden and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addressed "pressing global challenges" on the sidelines of the 78th General Assembly on Tuesday.

Biden and Guterres discussed efforts to curb rising global poverty and inequality, global development, climate change and the UN's core principles "particularly in the face of Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine," the White House said in a statement.

"The leaders also discussed efforts to reform and strengthen multilateral institutions to make them more inclusive and effective and better equipped to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals and address global challenges like climate change and fragility," it added.

The meeting came a little more than an hour after Biden addressed the General Assembly as the world body kicked off a week of high-level speeches and meetings. During his address, the US president reiterated US support for overhauling the UN Security Council and said it is failing to carry out its core duties.

"We need to be able to break the gridlock that too often stymies progress and blocks consensus on the Council. We need more voices, more perspectives at the table," he said at the international body's New York headquarters.

"The United Nations must continue to preserve peace, prevent conflict and alleviate human suffering. And we embrace nations stepping up to lead in new ways, to seek new breakthroughs on hard issues," added Biden.