FILE: U.N. headquarters, New York City - Date Unknown (UNifeed - No access Chinese mainland/Not for sale)
1. U.N. flag

U.N. headquarters, New York City - Sept 14, 2021 (UNifeed - No access Chinese mainland/Not for sale)
2. General Assembly Hall
3. Incoming President of 76th Session of U.N. General Assembly Abdulla Shahid walking to stage
4. Various of Shahid standing at podium
5. Shahid receiving gavel from former PGA Bozkir
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Abdulla Shahid, President of 76th Session of U.N. General Assembly:
"It is my great pleasure and honor to declare open the 76th regular session of the General Assembly and call to order its first plenary meeting."
7. Maldives delegation

FILE: U.N. headquarters, New York City - June 24, 2020 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
8. Flags

FILE: U.N. headquarters, New York City - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
9. United Nations headquarters building
10. U.N. logo

The 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) opened at U.N. headquarters in New York on Tuesday.

Maldivian diplomat Abdulla Shahid who was elected as president of the 76th UNGA in June, took oath of office during the ceremony and received the gravel from Volkan Bozkir, president of the 75th UNGA.

In his speech, Shahid said his presidency will highlight hope in "recovering from COVID-19, rebuilding sustainably, responding to the needs of the planet, respecting the rights of all people, and revitalizing the United Nations."

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres warmly congratulated Shahid of the Maldives on his election.

On the challenges and divisions that the world is facing, Guterres said, "We must accelerate. We need to speed-up our response to COVID-19, with vaccines, treatment and equipment for all — not only those with the most."

He called for the end of war against each other, stressing the urgency to fight against the humanity's common enemy -- COVID-19 pandemic.

From Sept 21, over 80 heads of state and senior officials are expected to attend a high-level general debate of the UNGA.