MFA Press Statement: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam at the 68th Session of The United Nations General Assembly, 25 September 2013

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam, who is in New York for the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), met his counterparts from Liechtenstein, Iran, Djibouti, Georgia, Zimbabwe, Sudan and Croatia. Minister Shanmugam also hosted lunch for the Foreign Ministers from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and chaired the Sixth Global Governance Group (3G) Ministerial Meeting.

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2        There were fruitful discussions at the annual 3G Ministerial Meeting, which Minister Shanmugam chaired. The 3G Foreign Ministers adopted the press statement annexed below.

[Photo: MFA]
 

3        During the lunch with the CARICOM foreign ministers, Minister Shanmugam picked up on issues which he and the CARICOM Ministers had discussed during the CARICOM High-Level Ministerial Exchange Visit to Singapore from 15-19 July 2013. The Ministers discussed ways to deepen existing cooperation between the CARICOM and Asia, and shared their economic and developmental experiences of their respective countries.

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4        With the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liechtenstein, Dr Aurelia Frick, Minister Shanmugam discussed the importance of fora like 3G in its contribution to the international discourse on global governance. Minister Shanmugam noted the growing bilateral relationship between Singapore and Liechtenstein, marked by the visit to Singapore of His Serene Highness Hereditary Prince Alois, the Crown Prince of Liechtenstein from 26-28 June 2013, and the exhibition of artworks from the Princely Collection of Liechtenstein at the National Museum of Singapore.

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5         Minister Shanmugam and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran, Mohammad Javad Zarif, noted the progress in bilateral ties. The Ministers also discussed Iran's nuclear programme. Minister Shanmugam reiterated Singapore's position that while Iran had the right to the peaceful use of nuclear technology as provided for under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), it was important that Iran fully complied with all its international obligations under the relevant United Nations Security Council and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors resolutions.

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6        With the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Djibouti, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Minister Shanmugam discussed ways in which Africa and Asia could strengthen cooperation. Minister Shanmugam encouraged Djibouti businesses to participate in the Africa-Singapore Business Forum. The Ministers also explored ways in which to further engage and share experiences in the maritime sector.

[Photo: MFA]
 

7        Minister Shanmugam and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Maia Panjikidze, explored ways in which both sides could share their developmental experiences through training programmes, business missions, and official exchanges.

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8        With the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Zimbabwe, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, Minister Shanmugam had a good exchange of views on how to further develop the relationship between Zimbabwe and Singapore.  Minister Shanmugam encouraged businesses from Zimbabwe to participate in the Africa-Singapore Business Forum.

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9 Minister Shanmugam and the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Croatia, Vesna Pusic, discussed the potential for economic cooperation between Singapore and Croatia. Minister Shanmugam encouraged Croatia to showcase the economic opportunities available in Croatia through exhibitions and roadshows in Singapore.

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10        With the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sudan, Ali Ahmed Karti, Minister Shanmugam invited Sudanese officials to participate in the Singapore Cooperation Programme, and discussed ways in which both sides could strengthen bilateral ties.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
26 SEPTEMBER 2013

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ANNEX

Press Statement by the Global Governance Group (3G) on its Sixth 3G Ministerial Meeting in New York, 25 September 2013

The Global Governance Group (3G) [1] held its Sixth Ministerial Meeting in New York on 25 September 2013, on the sidelines of the 68th United Nations General Assembly.  As part of its efforts to promote a more effective, accountable and inclusive framework of global governance, the 3G had a constructive dialogue with the President of the 68th United Nations General Assembly, H.E. John Ashe, as well as the past, present and future Chairs of the G20 - Mexico, Russian Federation, and Australia - during the meeting.

The 3G Ministers had a fruitful exchange with the G20 members on the outcomes of the G20 Summit in Saint Petersburg.  Taking note that global growth continues to be weak and unemployment remains high in many countries, the 3G Ministers welcomed the Saint Petersburg Action Plan, which presents a comprehensive set of actions to stimulate economic activities and boost job creation.  The Ministers also welcomed the G20’s commitment to take broad-range action, tailored to national circumstances, to promote more and better quality jobs.  They expressed support for the first G20 joint Labour, Employment and Finance Ministers’ meeting, which enhanced coordination and integration within the G20 to support jobs growth.  

The 3G Ministers agreed that more international cooperation was needed to overcome fiscal and financial imbalances.  They urged the G20 members to continue to support financial inclusion and help in building an integrated and resilient global financial system.  In this regard, 3G Ministers called on the G20 to refrain from global standard-setting exercises, best placed in a formal organisation with universal membership.  Noting the key role of long-term investment for sustainable growth and jobs, the Ministers agreed that ‘Financing for Investment’ is a useful and practical topic for the G20 to discuss and continue to focus on. 

The 3G Ministers recognised the importance of an open, rules-based and transparent multilateral trading system in restoring global growth.  In this regard, they welcomed the G20’s reaffirmation of the centrality of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in global trade.  The Ministers reiterated their call for G20 members to push for a swift conclusion of the Doha Round negotiations.  To that end, they urged for a successful outcome at the 9th WTO Ministerial Conference in Bali in December 2013.  The Ministers also welcomed the G20’s extension until the end of 2016 their standstill commitment on new protectionist measures and reaffirmed commitment to roll back new protectionist measures.

The 3G Ministers were encouraged that the G20 stated its intention to support ongoing efforts in the United Nations on the post-2015 development agenda.  In this regard, they welcomed the G20’s endorsement of the Saint Petersburg Development Outlook. The Ministers reiterated its call on the G20 and other relevant stakeholders to continue to help developing countries achieve sustainable growth through measures such as poverty eradication, promotion of green growth and the fight against climate change.  The Ministers also welcomed the reaffirmation by the G20 on its commitment on fossil fuel subsidy reform.

The Ministers took stock of the efforts of the 3G to promote an effective, accountable and inclusive framework of global governance, and in this context underlines the importance of General Assembly resolution 67/289 “The United Nations in global economic governance”, adopted by the General Assembly on 9 July 2013.  They urged the G20 to strengthen its engagement of non-members as well as regional and international organisations, in particular the United Nations.  The Ministers reiterated the role of the United Nations as the only global body with universal participation and unquestioned legitimacy, and stressed that the actions and decisions of the G20 should complement and strengthen the United Nations system.  The Ministers also called on the G20 to go beyond consultations with non-G20 members, groupings like 3G and relevant stakeholders, and find ways to incorporate their inputs into G20 outcomes.  The Ministers expressed their appreciation for the Russian Federation’s engagement of the 3G during its G20 chairmanship this year.

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26 September 2013

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[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.