STATEMENT BY MR JOHN CHEO DELEGATE TO THE 77TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON AGENDA ITEM 127: “COOPERATION BETWEEN THE UNITED NATIONS AND REGIONAL AND OTHER ORGANISATIONS”, 21 NOVEMBER 2022

Mr President,

1 At the outset, let me express Singapore’s thanks to the Secretary-General and his team for the useful report on cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organisations (A/77/277) for the period September 2020 to August 2022.

2 As the report rightly puts it, the last two years were “amongst the most complex and volatile in the history of the United Nations”. Among other factors, the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution have created profound disruption. Across the globe, societies and economies – especially in the developing world – are struggling to cope. International and regional organisations are also struggling to maintain their relevance.

3 Against this backdrop, allow me to make three points. First, close and effective cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organisations is indispensable to building the networked multilateral system envisioned in Our Common Agenda. Be it developing a regional strategy on youth, peace, and security with the League of Arab States; supporting the African Union flagship initiative “Silencing the Guns in Africa”; or partnering CARICOM to better address violence against women and girls, enhanced interaction and coordination between the United Nations and regional and other organisations can be a force for good. Singapore is therefore heartened that the United Nations has continued its proactive approach to strengthening its network of partners and welcomes the Secretary-General’s proposal for annual meetings between the United Nations and heads of regional organisations under Our Common Agenda. We stand ready to support these endeavors.

4 Second, Singapore welcomes the continued excellent cooperation between the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), including high-level engagements between the Secretary-General and our leaders. We were therefore very glad to welcome, in person for the first time in three years, the Secretary-General to the ASEAN-UN Summit held in Cambodia just two weeks ago. We look forward to the adoption of the draft resolution A/77/L.12 which outlines the many areas of partnership between both organisations, including in disaster risk reduction and management, digital economy and cybersecurity, as well as sustainable development. The draft resolution also reaffirms the shared commitment of both organisations to do more together under the ambit of the Plan of Action to Implement the Joint Declaration on Comprehensive Partnership between the United Nations and ASEAN (2021 – 2025).We therefore urge Member States to co-sponsor and support the draft resolution.

5 Third, and finally, Singapore is pleased to again co-sponsor the draft resolution on cooperation between the United Nations and INTERPOL (A/77/L.20).With criminal networks increasingly operating across borders, INTERPOL will continue to play a crucial role in international law enforcement. As the host country of the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation since 2015, Singapore strongly supports INTERPOL’s efforts to develop and promote innovative ways to combat technology-enabled and other emerging threats. We are committed to strengthening the important partnership between INTERPOL and the United Nations to keep our societies and peoples safe.

Mr President

6 Singapore believes that strengthening the multilateral system is critical to restoring international stability in these troubled times. A United Nations in robust partnership with regional and other organisations will help develop solutions to current and emerging challenges across overlapping networks of multilateralism. Singapore will remain a steadfast partner in these efforts.

7 I thank you, Mr President.

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