PRESS STATEMENT BY THE GLOBAL GOVERNANCE GROUP (3G) ON THE G20 SUMMIT IN OSAKA, JAPAN 28 – 29 JUNE 2019

1             The Global Governance Group (3G) ^[1] looks forward to a constructive and ambitious outcome from the upcoming Group of Twenty (G20) Summit, which will be held in Osaka, Japan from 28 to 29 June 2019. The 3G welcomes the Japanese G20 Presidency’s theme of promoting a free and open, inclusive and sustainable, human-centred future society.

2        The 3G notes with concern that global growth remains low and may continue to be affected by key risks, most important of which are the intensifying trade tensions. The 3G therefore calls on the G20 to continue to undertake macroeconomic and structural policy actions to achieve strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth, and mitigate downside risks.

3        The 3G is concerned with the escalating global trade tensions. All countries, especially small and medium sized countries like the 3G countries, will be negatively impacted if trade conflicts spill over into wider tensions and disrupt global trade. The 3G reiterates the importance of an open, rules-based multilateral trading system (MTS), as embodied by the World Trade Organisation (WTO), in ensuring that trade remains free and open. In this regard, the 3G commends efforts undertaken by the Japanese G20 Presidency to uphold and update the MTS, including through the injection of political impetus into discussions of new pertinent issues at the WTO such as the digital economy.

4        The 3G welcomes the discussion of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) under the Japanese G20 Presidency. The 3G commends the Japanese G20 Presidency’s efforts in building on the global momentum to galvanise support for UHC as an important objective towards attaining equitable and sustainable health outcomes. The 3G recognises that there is no one size fits all solution for UHC, and countries must design and implement systems to meet the particular needs of their health, social, and economic circumstances. The 3G therefore calls on the G20 to work closely with the WHO, UN member states and UN agencies, as well as international organisations to drive concerted efforts on UHC. The 3G looks forward to working closely with the Japanese G20 Presidency to continue to promote efforts towards UHC in order to improve health outcomes, foster equity and advance our collective progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

5        The 3G welcomes the G20’s continued efforts to advance work on development, which is a key element in the G20’s long-term agenda.  The 3G is highly supportive of the G20’s efforts to complement the UN’s development agenda. In this regard, the 3G applauds the Osaka Update, which underscores the G20’s collective and concrete actions towards achieving the 2030 Agenda and helping to ensure that no one is left behind. In addition, the 3G strongly supports the G20 Initiative on Human Capital Investment for Sustainable Development to ensure quality education for creating inclusive, resilient and innovative societies.

6        The 3G commends Japan’s leadership of the G20 in 2019, in particular, Japan’s efforts to build on practices by previous G20 Presidencies in strengthening the G20’s engagement with the UN, relevant regional organisations and non-G20 members, including the 3G. The 3G appreciates the briefings by Japan on its G20 priorities on the sidelines of UN meetings in New York, in particular, the participation by Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Kono at the Eleventh 3G Ministerial Meeting in New York on 28 September 2018. The 3G further welcomes the Japanese Presidency’s invitation to the UN Secretary-General to participate in the Osaka Summit, and affirms the importance of maintaining this practice. The 3G hopes that the next G20 Presidency, Saudi Arabia, will continue the G20’s commitment to engage the 3G. The 3G looks forward to Japan updating the UN membership on the outcomes of the Osaka Summit.

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27 June 2019

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