STATEMENT BY MR ALBERT CHUA, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ON BEHALF OF THE GLOBAL GOVERNANCE GROUP (3G) AT THE HIGH-LEVEL THEMATIC DEBATE ON THE UNITED NATIONS AND GLOBAL ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE, 15 APRIL 2013

Mr President,

1         On behalf of the 30 members of the informal Global Governance Group*or 3G, I would like to thank you for convening this important and timely debate.  The 3G had given our inputs on this high-level thematic debate, which was circulated as United Nations document A/67/807. 

2         We appreciate the statements made by high-level participants this morning.  We also welcome Ms Ksenia Yudaeva, G20 Sherpa of the Russian Federation, and look forward to her briefing later today.  We congratulate Russia on assuming the Presidency of the G20, and hope that the G20 and the Russian Presidency this year will continue to engage Member States at the United Nations, building on the efforts made by previous G20 presidencies.

3         In assessing the state of the global economy today, it is clear that an effective and inclusive framework of global governance is more necessary than ever before. With the application of significant resources over time, the policies of national governments and international institutions have generated macro-economic stability and alleviated short-term economic pressures; however, global recovery remains weak.  While the world has avoided a global economic depression, we must remain vigilant.  As we transit from a phase of crisis aversion to one of economic coordination, we must continue efforts to strengthen the existing global governance framework.

4         Global problems require global solutions.  In the 3G’s view, the United Nations must continue to lead the effort in shaping the global governance framework.  As the only global body with universal participation and unquestioned legitimacy, the United Nations has a central role in global governance.  Other international institutions and informal groupings have important roles to play as meaningful complements to the United Nations; their relationship should be based on cooperation, avoiding duplication and competition.  These international institutions and informal groups should also continue to respect the mandates of the United Nations and its organisations.

5                 The 3G believes that strengthening the relationship between the United Nations and G20 is key to enhancing global economic governance.  Although the G20 contains the largest developed and emerging economies in the world, G20 outcomes must have the support of non-G20 members for them to be implemented globally and effectively.  A global economic governance framework cannot be the sole function of any single entity.  It is therefore important that the G20 engages the United Nations through more institutionalised, predictable and regular channels.  Other relevant actors in the economic field like the Bretton Woods Institutions, regional financial institutions and other informal groupings must also be included.  While the G20’s actions have helped in tackling short-term contingencies arising from the economic and financial crisis, there is a need for the G20 to converge with and institutionalise its interactions with the United Nations in the longer-term.

6         In this regard, the 3G welcomes the practices adopted by G20 Presidents which aim at strengthening engagement with the United Nations.  These practices include the invitation to the United Nations Secretary-General to attend G20 Summits, and the holding of briefings and consultations with the United Nations membership.  These existing good practices could be formalised and institutionalised.

7         The 3G reiterates the need to build on these good practices.  As recommended in the report by United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron, the G20 should also appoint a senior official to oversee G20 engagement with the wider United Nations membership.  This senior official could promote consideration by the G20 of inputs from the United Nations and give feedback on their consideration.  The G20 should also continue and deepen the application of the principle of “variable geometry” to allow for the participation of non-G20 members on issues of concern to them.  The G20 should go beyond consultations with non-G20 members and groupings, and find ways to incorporate their inputs into G20 outcomes.

8         Ultimately, the United Nations is the central forum where the broadest issues of global cooperation must be taken up.  However, the United Nations has to reform its own internal processes and working methods to stay relevant and action-oriented.  The United Nations should optimise its workings so as to provide competent assistance to Member States in our management of the challenges of global governance.  It also needs to examine how to enhance its capabilities to effectively engage all the stakeholders in global governance, particularly those in the economic, financial and development sectors.

9         The 3G looks forward to working closely with the Russian Presidency in 2013 to build a comprehensive, inclusive and transparent global governance framework.  Thank you.

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[*]    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.