New York Mayor Mamdani meets UN chief during first visit to organisation’s headquarters

New York (Web Desk): New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who became the first Muslim and South Asian to lead the country’s largest metropolis, met with United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday at the UN’s Manhattan headquarters. This was the first meeting between the two leaders.

According to a statement from the UN chief’s spokesperson, “The Secretary-General thanked the Mayor for the outstanding relationship and support received from the host city.”

The Secretary-General also emphasized the vital role cities play in today’s world and spoke with Mayor Mamdani about ways to strengthen cooperation between New York City and the United Nations. He expressed his eagerness to maintain an ongoing dialogue with the city.

Since 1950, New York City has hosted the UN’s international headquarters. In 1962, the city created the role of Commissioner for the United Nations—now known as the Mayor’s Office for International Affairs—which serves as a bridge between the diplomatic community and local residents, businesses, and government agencies involved with the intergovernmental organization.

As he arrived at the 39-story Secretariat building in Turtle Bay, Mamdani told UN News, “We are incredibly proud to host the United Nations. More than three million New Yorkers, including myself, were born outside the United States, and having the UN here is something we welcome every day. We are thrilled to continue building on this partnership.”