Statement by Mr Albert Chua, Permanent Representative of Singapore to the United Nations, on Behalf of the Global Governance Group (3G) at the Briefing on the G-20 Los Cabos Summit, 5 June 2012

1         I have the honour to make this statement on behalf of the informal Global Governance Group[*] or 3G.  The 3G would like to thank the President of the General Assembly H.E. Nassir Abdulaziz Al Nasser for convening this meeting.  We thank the United Nations Secretary-General H.E. Mr Ban Ki-Moon and President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council H.E. Ambassador Milos Koterec for their briefings.  We also thank Mexico and Sherpa of the G-20 Chair, Ambassador Mrs Lourdes Aranda for briefing Member States on the priorities and expectations of the G-20 at the forthcoming Los Cabos Summit.

2         The 3G welcomes Mexico’s invitation to the United Nations Secretary-General to attend and actively participate in the Los Cabos Summit.  We commend the Mexican G-20 Presidency’s commitment to strengthening the G-20’s engagement of the United Nations and non G-20 countries.  The 3G hopes that Russia, as the next G-20 chair, will continue this inclusive approach.

3         The 3G looks forward to a constructive outcome from the Los Cabos Summit, which will take place in the face of an uncertain global economic outlook.  Growing sovereign debt, unemployment, and market uncertainty are stifling growth and slowing trade, posing significant risks to the global economic recovery.  The 3G stresses the urgent need for strong global policy coordination to stimulate growth in the global economy.   Ahead of the Los Cabos Summit, the 3G has submitted two papers to the G-20 respectively entitled “3G Input to the G-20 on Promotion of Sustainable Development, Green Growth and the Fight Against Climate Change” and “Fostering a Coherent Global Governance Framework: Constructive Engagement between the United Nations and the G-20”.  We will be circulating these papers as UN documents.

Sustainable Development, Green Growth and Climate Change

4         The Mexican G-20 Presidency has made the promotion of sustainable development, green growth and the fight against climate change a priority.  The focus on sustainable development is particularly apt, given that the Rio+20 Summit will be held immediately after the G20 Los Cabos Summit.  The 3G stresses the interrelationship between trade and sustainable development, and is of the view that progress on the development agenda is only possible when underpinned by a strong global economy.  In this regard, the 3G notes that the successful conclusion of the WTO Doha Development Agenda is long overdue.  The 3G reiterates its call on the G-20 to renew political commitment and take urgent action to move the process forward with fresh, credible approaches to furthering negotiations as promised at the Cannes Summit last year.  The G-20 should also uphold its commitment not to impose or raise barriers to trade and investment flows.

5         The 3G recognises the need to support developing countries to implement policies relevant to sustainable development, green growth and climate change.  Developing countries need access to adequate technology and investment to do so.  In this regard, we encourage initiatives which enhance international cooperation between developed and developing countries.  Sustainable development and green economy policies should promote inclusive and equitable growth, rather than create new trade barriers or impose unwarranted conditionalities.

Global Governance

6         On global governance, the 3G is of the view that global challenges like sovereign debt crises, climate change and non-traditional security threats have global implications; effective solutions to these problems should be found through a comprehensive, inclusive, and transparent global governance framework.  As the only global body with universal membership and unquestioned legitimacy, the United Nations must remain at the centre of any effort to improve the global governance framework.  To create a coherent global governance framework, links between the UN and other stakeholders should be strengthened.  In this regard, the 3G welcomes the G-20’s commitment, as stated in the report by the United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron (“Governance for growth: Building consensus for the future”), to strengthen and systematize its engagement with the United Nations.

7         The 3G calls on the G-20 to continue to deepen engagement with other non G-20 stakeholders.  The 3G has consistently emphasised that there should be sufficient flexibility in the G-20 process to provide for the participation of non G-20 members in discussions on specialised issues.  In dealing with financial and economic challenges, for example, the G-20 should work with institutions such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and World Trade Organization.  By factoring in the perspectives of other stakeholders through this “variable geometry” approach, the G-20 will be better able to address global economic challenges in a comprehensive and coherent manner.    The G-20 also needs to go beyond consultations with non G-20 members and find ways to incorporate their inputs into outcomes.  In this regard, the 3G has suggested the appointment of a senior official within the G-20 troika to oversee the continuity of the G-20’s engagement with other stakeholders.

8         Let me conclude by thanking Mexico for its efforts to be consultative and inclusive during its Chairmanship of the G-20.  The 3G will continue to work closely with Mexico. The 3G also looks forward to cooperating with Russia, the next Chair of the G-20.

* The 3G comprises the following member states of the United Nations: Bahamas, Kingdom of Bahrain, Barbados, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Costa Rica, Republic of Finland, Guatemala, Jamaica, Kuwait, Principality of Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Principality of Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Panama, Peru, Republic of the Philippines, State of Qatar, Republic of Rwanda, Republic of San Marino, Republic of Senegal, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovenia, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay and Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.