Narendra Modi speech at ECOSOC: In COVID fight, our health system is helping India ensure one of the best recovery rates in the world

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday addressed the United Nations at the high-level segment of its Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). This is his first since India was elected as a non-permanent member of the powerful Security Council in June. PM Modi was speaking in a virtual keynote address to ECOSOC session.

In his speech, the PM said that India has always stood by the United Nations. India is working towards achieving its 2030 agenda. India is also helping other countries to achieve their goals.

He said, "In our joint fight against COVID, we have extended help to over 150 countries."

PM added, "In fight against COVID, our grass-roots health system is helping India ensure one of the best recovery rates in the world."

PM Modi also said that UN's 75th anniversary is also an occasion to assess its role and relevance in today's world.

See Zee Business Live TV Streaming Below:

Before this, PM Modi had delivered the keynote address virtually on ECOSOC’s 70th anniversary in January 2016.

Highlights - Here are PM Modi quotes from speech:

1.In India, we have tried to make the fight against the pandemic a people's movement 

2. In fight against COVID, our grass-roots health system is helping India ensure one of the best recovery rates in the world

3. We have an age-old tradition of  living in harmony with nature.    We launched one of the largest campaigns for cleanliness  and discouraged usage of single-use plastic

4. Be it earthquakes, cyclones, Ebola crisis or any other natural or man-made crisis, India has responded  with speed and solidarity. In our joint fight against COVID,  we have extended medical and other assistance to over 150 countries

5. India firmly believes that path to achieve sustainable peace and prosperity is through multilateralism

6. Multilateralism needs to represent reality of contemporary world

7. Only reformed multilateralism with reformed UN at its center can meet aspirations of humanity

8. While celebrating 75 years of UN, let us pledge to reform global multilateral system

9. UN was originally born from furies of World War II; today, fury of COVID-19 pandemic provides context for its rebirth and reform

10. With our deep commitment to maintaining global harmony, to improving socio-economic equity, and to preserving nature's balance, India will play its role in full support of the UN agenda

11. Internationally, our initiative to set up the International Solar Alliance was a practical manifestation of climate action.    Similarly,  the Coalition for  Disaster Resilience  Infrastructure brings together   all relevant stake-holders

12. While marching forward on the path of development, we are not forgetting our responsibility towards our planet. Over the past few years, we have reduced 38 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually

13. We are also on track to remove TB by 2025. Other developing countries can learn from the scale and success of India's development programmes. And from the technologies and innovations we have deployed

14. Our ‘Housing for All’ programme will ensure that every Indian will have a safe and secure roof  over her head by 2022, when India completes 75 years as an independent nation

15. We have leveraged the power of technology for financial inclusion. This is based on the trinity of a unique identity number, a bank account, and a mobile connection for everyone:

16. Last year, we celebrated  the 150th birth anniversary of the Father of our Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, by achieving full sanitation coverage in our six hundred thousand villages

17. Our motto is 'Sabka Saath,  Sabka Vikaas,  Sabka Vishwas'  - meaning 'Together, for everyone's growth,  with everyone's trust'. This resonates with the core SDG principle of  leaving no one behind

18. India is home to one-sixth of humanity. We are mindful of our weight and responsibility. We know that if India succeeds in achieving its development objectives, it will go a long way in achievement of global goals

19. Today, through our domestic efforts, we are again playing a salient role in achieving Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals. We are also supporting other developing countries in meeting their Sustainable Development  Goals:

20. From the very beginning, India has actively supported the UN's development work and the  ECOSOC. The first president of ECOSOC was an Indian. India also contributed to shaping the ECOSOC agenda

21. India was among the 50 founding members of the United Nations immediately after the Second World War. A lot has changed since then. Today the UN brings together 193 member countries

22. This year we celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. It is an occasion to recognise the UN's many contributions to human progress. It is also an opportunity to assess the UN's role and relevance in today's World.