UN General Assembly
2018

I congratulate Her Excellency Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés on her assumption of her presidency of the General Assembly at its seventy- third session. I assure her that the Tonga delegation will fully support her able leadership. I express our gratitude to her predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, for his successful and able leadership of the Assembly at its seventy-second session, in particular for making the work of the Assembly people-centred and striving for peace and a decent life for all on a sustainable planet. I also commend His Excellency Mr. António Guterres for his ongoing stewardship of the Secretariat. Tonga fully supports the ongoing work he is undertaking on reform, including the all-important review of the United Nations multi-country offices in the Pacific Islands region.