In my view, decisions on the format, timing and venue of this event must be made without delay. Many of these issues will be addressed during the on-going General Assembly. I have sensed from the floor the urgency to address this particular issue. The pandemic also underscores the need to include health issues in national educational and literacy programmes. Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Globalization and its impacts, both positive and negative, was one of the overriding themes of the discussion.
Globalization provides both opportunities and challenges.
Positive impacts have been identified, such as increased economic growth and an improved standard of living. The major challenge, however, remains. That is how to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor within and among countries, and how to share the benefits of globalization in a more equitable way. In the course of the debate it was reiterated that to address globalization we have to think in a multidimensional way. Globalization encompasses not only economic but also political, social, environmental, technological and cultural dimensions.