Press Statement by the Global Governance Group (3G) on its eleventh Ministerial Meeting in New York on 28 September 2018

1                 The Global Governance Group (3G) ^[1] held its 11^th Ministerial Meeting in New York on 28 September 2018, on the sidelines of the 73^rd session of the United Nations General Assembly.  The 3G invited the President of the 73^rd United Nations General Assembly, H.E. María Fernanda Espinosa, as well as the previous, present and incoming Presidents of the G20 (troika) – Germany, Argentina and Japan – to engage in a dialogue with the 3G during the meeting.  This engagement with key stakeholders is part of the 3G’s ongoing efforts to promote a more effective, accountable and inclusive framework of global governance.

2          The 3G Ministers had a productive discussion with the G20 troika on the key priorities and deliverables of the G20 under Argentina’s G20 Presidency. The 3G Ministers welcomed Argentina’s ambitious and forward-looking G20 agenda of “Building Consensus for Fair and Sustainable Development”. The 3G Ministers commended the G20’s leadership in taking forward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the G20’s support for developing countries in their implementation efforts. The 3G Ministers are encouraged by Argentina’s commitment to further the G20’s work on sustainable development, with a particular focus on eradicating poverty and inequality through inclusive education, economic growth and a people-centred approach. The 3G Ministers further welcomed the Buenos Aires Update, which will be important in maintaining the international momentum to advance sustainable development for the benefit for all.  While stressing the importance of sustaining climate change action, the 3G Ministers welcomed the creation of the Climate Sustainability Working Group under Argentina's G20 Presidency, and reiterated their commitment to the Paris Agreement and issues related to its implementation in view of COP 24, and in this context expressed their readiness to work closely with the G20 to jointly address this urgent and global challenge.  

3          The 3G Ministers discussed their concerns about the rising global trade tensions, given that the 3G countries are open economies that are heavily reliant on trade. The 3G Ministers emphasised the importance of maintaining an open, rules-based multilateral trading system as embodied by the World Trade Organisation (WTO), which has underpinned global economic growth and development. The 3G Ministers applauded efforts by Argentina’s G20 Presidency in seeking ways to uphold the rules-based multilateral trading system, including through the reinstatement of the G20 Trade and Investment Working Group and the reconvening of the G20 Trade and Investment Ministerial Meeting.

4          The 3G Ministers expressed their appreciation for Argentina’s active engagement of the group during its G20 Presidency in 2018.  The 3G Ministers appreciated the briefings given by Argentina on its G20 Presidency on the sidelines of United Nations meetings in New York, in particular, the briefing by Argentina Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship H.E. Jorge Faurie at the 10^th 3G Ministerial Meeting in New York on 22 September 2017.

5          The 3G Ministers looked forward to continuing their partnership with the G20 under Japan’s Presidency in 2019.  The 3G Ministers urged Japan to continue the G20’s commitment to engage the 3G, as well as other regional and international organisations, in particular the United Nations. The 3G Ministers reiterated their position on the role of international organisations with universal membership in global standard setting.  This would contribute to reinforcing the complementarity between the G20, multilateral organisations and other key stakeholders.

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28 September 2018

[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.