STATEMENT BY MS EMILY LEK, DELEGATE TO THE 76TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AT THE SECOND COMMITTEE GENERAL DEBATE 8 OCTOBER 2021

Thank you, Madam Chair. 

1 Singapore aligns itself with the statements made by Guinea on behalf of the G77 and China, Antigua and Barbuda on behalf of AOSIS, and Brunei on behalf of ASEAN.

2 Allow me to join others in congratulating the Chair and other members of the Bureau on your election.  Singapore looks forward to working with the Chair and Bureau towards a successful Second Committee session.

Madam Chair,

3 The world continues to grapple with one of the greatest challenges of our time.  The devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, disrupting lives and livelihoods globally.  Our fight against the virus is far from over.  We have to continue working towards an inclusive and sustainable post-COVID recovery, while ensuring the health and safety of our peoples.

4 In this context, Singapore welcomes the General Debate theme: “Crisis, Resilience and Recovery – Accelerating Progress towards the 2030 Agenda”.  Our discussions will reinforce the role of the UN as an inclusive and universal platform to build consensus around countries’ response and recovery efforts from COVID-19.  Singapore also welcomes Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ Report on “Our Common Agenda”, which features important proposals to reposition and adapt the UN for the future.

Madam Chair,

5 Singapore would like to emphasise three priorities in our efforts to foster resilience and recovery.  One, strengthening the rules-based multilateral system.  This includes reinvigorating multilateral institutions, so that we can respond more effectively to present and future global challenges.  A rules-based multilateral system, with the UN at its heart, is our best hope to build and sustain good global governance.  The UN and WHO have played a vital role in leading the global response to COVID-19, and we support their continued role in coordinating our global recovery efforts.  In this vein, we need to mobilise resources to strengthen the global health architecture  and ensure that we are ready for the next pandemic.  We also support the Secretary-General’s call for a “fairer and more resilient multilateral trading system”, including a reinvigorated World Trade Organization.  We should update the WTO rulebook to address new economic realities such as the digital economy.

6 Two, we should keep markets and global supply chains open.  Our world today is deeply inter-connected.  The unimpeded flow of essential goods and services across borders therefore remains critical for all states to respond to and recover from COVID-19.  This is particularly true for small states, which do not have the option of fully onshoring production capacities.  Singapore has thus partnered other countries to strengthen supply chains by making them more diverse and integrated.  As a transhipment hub, Singapore has always played our part to keep essential supplies moving to where they are needed most.  In the longer term, we also seek to safely and progressively reopen our borders and restore connectivity, in a calibrated and step-by-step approach.   

7 Three, the world should seize opportunities arising from global shifts accelerated by COVID-19 to emerge stronger from the pandemic.  While COVID-19 has disrupted our lives, jobs and the economy, there are also bright spots and new opportunities that we can look forward to.  For example, COVID-19 has accelerated the pace and scale of the digital revolution.  This has provided impetus for greater collaboration in the digital sphere, including to realise the potential of the digital economy; close the digital divide; and shape the global digital infrastructure.  Singapore has been building partnerships with many countries in the area of digital technologies, having concluded Digital Economy Agreements with several of our partners.  We look forward to working closely with all countries to build a global digital architecture that is open, inclusive, inter-operable and multi-stakeholder, for the benefit of all.

Madam Chair,

8 COVID-19 has not changed the fact that the world still faces complex challenges such as climate change and inequality.  We must strengthen our collective ability to respond to these challenges and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.  Singapore is committed to working closely with all delegations in the Second Committee towards our common goal of achieving the 2030 Agenda and leaving no one behind.  

9 Thank you.

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