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

.     .     .     .     .

25 September 2014