Meenakashi Lekhi discusses Ukraine conflict, impact on food, energy with UN General Assembly President

Ms. Lekhi discussed the Ukraine conflict and its impact on food and energy as well as the situation in Afghanistan with the President of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly

Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi discussed the Ukraine conflict and its impact on food and energy as well as the situation in Afghanistan with the President of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, Abdulla Shahid in New York.

“Had a very fruitful meeting with HE @abdulla_shahid, President of UN General Assembly. Appreciated various initiatives of @UN_PGA. Discussed #Ukraine conflict, including its impact on food, energy, tourism and finance, Afghanistan and Global South,” Ms. Lekhi, who arrived in New York from a visit to Chile, tweeted on Friday.

Mr. Shahid also tweeted that it was “good to meet” Ms. Lekhi.

During the day, Ms. Lekhi also visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art and had an “engaging discussion” with the museum’s senior team on a collaboration. “India-US art and museum collaboration. Thanked them for their support to #AmritMahotsav," she tweeted, referring to the commemoration of India's 75th year of Independence.

Later she also addressed a gathering at the Consulate General of India, New York during a storytelling session by actor Jugal Hansraj on his coming of age children’s book ‘The Coward and the Sword.’ Lauding Mr. Hansraj for his work, Ms. Lekhi underscored the importance of inculcating in young children the habit of reading books, saying that books feed children’s thirst for knowledge and benefit them throughout their lives.

“I definitely believe that reading books and knowing about others, believing in diversity, accepting diversity, especially the country we all come from - India and the region we come from...is a way of celebration because the kind of diversity we exhibit only very few people can exhibit" that the kind of diversity, she said.

“When it comes to liberty, human rights… I think the existence of India is the centerpiece and India is a country which is celebrating 75 years of its existence as an independent country in the modern history of mankind is something worth celebrating,” she said.