STATEMENT BY MR. LUKE TANG, COUNSELLOR (LEGAL), PERMANENT MISSION OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ON AGENDA ITEM 171, ON THE OBSERVER STATUS FOR THE ASEAN+3 MACROECONOMIC RESEARCH OFFICE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SIXTH COMMITTEE, 9 OCTOBER 2017

Mr. Chairman,

1.          On behalf of the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Singapore, my delegation has the honour to introduce draft resolution A/C.6/72/L.9 entitled “Observer status for the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office in the General Assembly”, which has been co-sponsored by Angola, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Thailand and Viet Nam. In addition, I wish to inform the Committee that Brunei Darussalam and Cuba have also signed on as co-sponsors of the draft resolution.

Mr. Chairman,

2.          ASEAN+3 is an ASEAN-led platform consisting of the 10 ASEAN Member States plus 3 countries in East Asia who are Dialogue Partners of ASEAN, that is, the People’s Republic of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea. The ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (or “AMRO”) functions as the regional macroeconomic surveillance unit of the ASEAN+3 members.

3.          In introducing the draft resolution for granting observer status to this important body, we would like to highlight that AMRO satisfies the criteria set out in the General Assembly’s decision 49/426 of 9 December 1994 regarding the granting of observer status.

4.          First, AMRO is an intergovernmental organisation. This is evidenced by its constituent treaty – the Agreement establishing AMRO. In particular, Article 1 of the Agreement states that the Contracting Parties establish AMRO as an international organisation which shall have full legal personality and the legal capacity for carrying out its purpose and functions. The Contracting Parties to AMRO are: Brunei Darussalam, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Republic of Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore, the Kingdom of Thailand, the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, the People’s Republic of China, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Hong Kong, China.

5.          Second, the activities of AMRO cover matters of interest to the General Assembly. Pursuant to Article 2 of the Agreement establishing AMRO, the purpose of AMRO is to contribute to securing the economic and financial stability of the region through conducting regional economic surveillance and supporting the implementation of the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization (“CMIM”). This purpose is consonant with the purposes and principles of the United Nations in promoting international cooperation in solving international economic problems.  

6.          In addition, UN Members recognised in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, that a stable global macroeconomic environment would facilitate the implementation of policies that contribute to sustainable development. UN Member States also called for strengthened cooperation between the International Monetary Fund and regional financial arrangements, while safeguarding their respective independence.

7.          Granting AMRO observer status in the General Assembly would help establish a firm basis for regular and well-organised cooperation between AMRO and the United Nations in the implementation of policies that would contribute to a stable global macroeconomic environment. It will also broaden and deepen AMRO’s interactions with other countries and regional and international organisations.

8.          Given the interconnectedness of the global economy with regional economies, increased exchanges with the General Assembly would enhance AMRO’s capacity to carry out its functions, primarily macroeconomic surveillance and the timely formulation of policy recommendations to mitigate identified risks in the region.

9.          Granting AMRO observer status in the General Assembly would be mutually beneficial as this will enable AMRO, with its expertise in the ASEAN+3 region, to provide inputs to discussions on the importance of macroeconomic surveillance, financial issues and the role of the regional financial arrangements in the global financial safety nets.

Mr. Chairman,

10.      In conclusion, it is submitted that AMRO satisfies the criteria set out in the General Assembly’s decision 49/426 of 9 December 1994 regarding the granting of observer status as it is an intergovernmental organisation whose activities cover matters of interest to the General Assembly. We accordingly request members of the Sixth Committee to consider the draft resolution favourably.

11.      I thank you for your attention.

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