MFA Press Statement: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam at the 69th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, 25 September 2014

Minister Shanmugam chaired the 7th Ministerial Meeting of the Global Governance Group (3G) held in New York on 25 September 2014, on the sidelines of the 69th Session of the United Nations General Assembly [Photo: MFA]
 

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam, who is in New York for the 69^th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), chaired the 7^th Global Governance Group (3G) Ministerial Meeting.  Following their discussions, the 3G Foreign Ministers adopted the press statement annexed below.

Minister Shanmugam also held a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the 69^th UNGA with his counterparts from Guatemala, the Palestinian National Authority, Somalia, Sudan, and Suriname.  He also met the former President of the 67^th session of the UN General Assembly.

With the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala, Carlos Raul Morales, Minister Shanmugam affirmed the friendly relations between both countries as well as the good bilateral cooperation in regional and international organisations, such as the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC).

Minister Shanmugam meeting with Foreign Minister of Guatemala Carlos Raul Morales on the sidelines of the 69th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. [Photo: MFA]
 

Minister Shanmugam and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), Riyad Al-Maliki, discussed the reconstruction efforts in Gaza and developments towards achieving Middle East peace. Minister Shanmugam affirmed Singapore's commitment to help the PNA in capacity-building and encouraged Palestinian officials to take up training courses under Singapore’s enhanced technical assistance package for the PNA, worth S$5 million over five years, which was announced in 2013.

Minister Shanmugam meeting with Foreign Minister of Palestinian National Authority Riyad Al-Maliki on the sidelines of the 69th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. [Photo: MFA]
 

With the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sudan, Ali Ahmed Karti, Minister Shanmugam discussed how to strengthen bilateral ties, such as through exchanges of visits at different levels. Minister Karti also updated Minister Shanmugam on recent developments in Sudan.

Minister Shanmugam meeting with Foreign Minister of Sudan Ali Ahmed Karti on the sidelines of the 69th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.[Photo: MFA]
 

Minister Shanmugam and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Somalia, Abdirahman Duale Beyle, exchanged views on deepening Singapore-Somalia cooperation, such as in the area of maritime and port development.

Minister Shanmugam meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Somalia Abdirahman Duale on the sidelines of the 69th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.[Photo: MFA]
 

Minister Shanmugam and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Suriname, Winston Lackin, reaffirmed the good relations between both countries. Both Ministers also discussed deepening cooperation through Singapore’s provision of customised training for Suriname officials under the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP).

Minister Shanmugam meeting with Foreign Minister of Suriname Winston Lackin on the sidelines of the 69th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. [Photo: MFA]
 

Minister Shanmugam and former President of the 67^th UN General Assembly, Vuk Jeremić, exchanged views on a wide range of issues including climate change, global governance and ASEAN-Europe relations. Jeremić updated Minister on the work of the Centre for International Relations and Sustainable Development (CIRSD), a public policy organisation of which he is President.

Minister Shanmugam meeting with former President of the 67th Session of the United Nations General Assembly Vuc Jeremic on the sidelines of the 69th Session of the United Nations General Assembly [Photo: MFA]
 

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
25 SEPTEMBER 2014

ANNEX:

PRESS STATEMENT BY THE GLOBAL GOVERNANCE GROUP (3G) ON ITS SEVENTH 3G MINISTERIAL MEETING IN NEW YORK, 25 SEPTEMBER 2014

The Global Governance Group (3G)^[[1]] held its 7^th Ministerial Meeting in New York on 25 September 2014, on the sidelines of the 69^th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly.  As part of its efforts to promote a more effective, accountable and inclusive framework of global governance, the 3G invited the President of the 69^th UN General Assembly, H.E. Sam Kahamba Kutesa, as well as the past, present and future Presidents of the G20 – Russian Federation, Australia, and Turkey – to engage in a dialogue with the 3G during the meeting.

The 3G Ministers had a fruitful discussion with G20 members on the key priorities and deliverables of Australia’s G20 Presidency.  Given the weak global economic recovery, the 3G Ministers welcomed the Australian Presidency’s emphasis on promoting stronger economic growth and employment outcomes, and making the global economy more resilient to future shocks.  The 3G Ministers welcomed the commitment made by the G20 at the Meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in February 2014 to lift their collective GDP by more than two per cent above the current trajectory projected over the next five years.  The Ministers also expressed their appreciation for Australia’s engagement of the 3G during its G20 Presidency, and looked forward to working with the next G20 President, Turkey.

The 3G Ministers recognised the importance of an open, rules-based multilateral trading system in restoring robust, sustainable and balanced global growth, and affirmed the centrality of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in global trade.  While welcoming the successful conclusion of the 9^th WTO Ministerial Conference in Bali in December 2013, the Ministers expressed concern over the inability of WTO Members to implement the Bali Package in accordance with the Ministerial decision in Bali.  In this regard, the 3G Ministers highlighted the important role of the G20 and called on the G20 to push for the early and comprehensive implementation of the Bali Package. It is essential to endorse the governance of the world trade system and the need to support and strengthen the WTO as its guarantor.

The 3G Ministers urged the G20 to continue engaging non-G20 members as well as regional and international organisations, in particular the UN. The Ministers reiterated that the UN is the only global body with universal participation and unquestioned legitimacy, stressing that the actions of the G20 should complement and strengthen the UN system.  The Ministers reviewed the 3G’s contributions to the G20 under Australia’s Presidency, including the 3G’s inputs to the G20 Taskforce on Employment, and urged the G20 to go beyond consultations with non-G20 members, and groupings such as the 3G and find ways to meaningfully incorporate their inputs into G20 outcomes and decisions.

^[[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