Mr. Ban is expected to stress the importance of renewed multilateralism when he addresses the 192-member Assembly’s General Debate at UN Headquarters.

In a wide-ranging speech before dozens of heads of State or government, Mr. Ban intends to spotlight the need for joint action on issues ranging from climate change and disarmament to ensuring that the world’s poorest people are not left behind by efforts to deal with the economic crisis.

The threat posed by climate change is the greatest challenge faced by humanity, he will say, calling for united global efforts to tackle the problem.

The Secretary-General will also call for the next year to be the one in which the world takes advantage of growing momentum and finally agrees to rid itself of nuclear weapons.

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Renewed multilateralism vital to tackling today’s global concerns, Ban says