PM Trudeau arrives at United Nations, hoping to re-establish Canada on world stage

The peace summit, which is being held a day before the start of the General Debate of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly in honour of the centenary of the birth of Nelson Mandela, "offers the opportunity for world leaders to renew their commitment to global peace, conflict prevention, conflict resolution, peacebuilding, promotion and protection of human rights", organizers said.

"We must be unanimous in ensuring that women take a centre stage on issues of peace, security and provide leadership in peace operations". A $1.8 million statue of a smiling Mandela with outstretched arms was unveiled at United Nations headquarters Monday.

"With human rights under growing pressure around the world, we would be well served to reflect on the example of this outstanding man", U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.

Furthermore, twin stamps of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela were released in July this year during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with South African President Ramaphosa.

Trudeau had a number of bilateral meetings with world leaders on his summit itinerary Monday, including one earlier in the day with the prime minister of Nepal, who thanked Canada for its humanitarian help following that country's devastating natural disaster in 2015. "The principles and values that Nelson Mandela and our founding fathers in Africa's Frontline States stood for, that of sacrifice and struggle for human rights, mutual respect, tolerance and reconciliation in our relations should remain the bedrock in our search for lasting peace", President Lungu said. "Dialogue is key, and courage is needed to take the first steps to build trust and gain momentum", it said. "The world needs a social contract based on shared responsibility, and the only forum that we have to achieve this global compact is the United Nations".

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned that "unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise" and urged the worldwide community to "stand united under the umbrella of multilateralism".

Wang said "the United Nations is the symbol of multilateralism" and "an important guardian of world peace". Others, like Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, made decidedly unsubtle references to U.S. President Donald Trump.

The African National Congress had its headquarters in Zambia's capital Lusaka, and the country as one the Frontline States actively contributed towards ending the apartheid minority rule in South Africa leading to the eventual release of Nelson Mandela.

Alluding to the Trump administration, Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez said recent announcements about military expenditures are "alarming" and are pushing the world into a new arms race "to the detriment of the enormous resources that are needed to build a world of peace".

"Peace is the work of many generations", Trudeau said.

"Nelson Mandela's life is an inspiration".