Global Governance Group (3G)

REMARKS BY AMBASSADOR VANU GOPALA MENON, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS AT THE INFORMAL BRIEFING ON THE UPCOMING SEOUL G-20 SUMMIT BY HE DR IL SAGONG , CHAIR OF THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMITTEE OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA FOR THE G-20 SUMMIT AND PROFESSOR K S JOMO, ASSISTANT SECRETARY-GENERAL, DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS (DESA), UN CONFERENCE ROOM 1, 1 JULY 2010

• We applaud Professor K S Jomo, ASG for DESA, and the Republic of Korea (ROK), as host of the next G-20 Summit, for organising this briefing for Member States on the forthcoming Seoul G-20 Summit and for reaching out to Member States early on in the process. We encourage the ROK to continue with its constructive efforts to consult Member States in this period leading up to the Seoul G-20 Summit. In this regard, let me extend a warm welcome to H.E. Dr Sagong and thank him for his briefing.

• I was heartened to hear Dr Sagong say at the outset of his briefing that the G-20 is not competing with the UN but that it sees itself playing a supplementary and complementary role vis-à-vis the UN. It is an important point because those of us who have been following the G-20 process know that there is a residue of suspicion on the part of some non G-20 members as to what the G-20 is up to. We have to ensure that the relationship between the G-20 and the UN is a constructive one. That means, inter alia, that there should be transparency in the work and deliberations of the G-20. It also means that outreach meetings of this type and in other formats by the hosts of G-20 Summits are extremely important in order to ensure buy-in from the rest of us who are not involved in the deliberations of the G-20.

• The impact of the financial and economic crisis on global growth, poverty reduction and the Millennium Development Goals has been significant. We are therefore heartened by the ROK's decision to include development issues on the agenda of the Seoul G-20 Summit. It is a significant decision, one which shows empathy on the part of the ROK for an issue of great importance to UN Member States, in particular the developing countries. This is especially so as the decisions of the G-20 would have a bearing on the development prospects of non G-20 countries, in particular the developing and least developed countries. The G-20 should ensure that its decisions consolidate and build upon, where possible, the development gains made by these countries.

• In this regard, let me add that the UN - the Secretariat and more significantly its funds and agencies - have a great deal of experience in the development field. Therefore, it would be essential to include the UN in any deliberations on development as the UN would be a useful resource and would have much to contribute in this area.

• We reiterate the need for the G-20 process and its actions and decisions to complement and strengthen the United Nations, which is the only global body with universal participation and unquestioned legitimacy. We strongly encourage the G-20 to invite the United Nations Sherpa to participate in all the relevant preparatory meetings leading up to the Seoul Summit. The UN should be involved in the preparatory process from the very beginning. The invitation should be issued early and not mid-way through or at the tail end of the G-20 preparatory process.

• The ROK, as host of the next Summit, should also consider organising regional outreach meetings to solicit feedback from G-20 and non G-20 countries on the agenda and key objectives of the upcoming Summit to make the G-20 process a more inclusive one. The G-20 should also take on a "variable geometry" configuration to allow non G-20 countries to participate in discussions on specialized issues.

• We note with interest the G-20's establishment of a Working Group on Development, which has been mandated to elaborate a development agenda and multi-year action plans to be adopted at the next G-20 Summit in Seoul. In this regard, we encourage the G-20 to take on a "variable geometry" configuration to allow non G-20 countries to participate in this Working Group.

• We agree with the ROK on the importance of domestic structural reforms that support well-designed social safety nets. Our experience has shown that good domestic policies can create an environment that helps cushion domestic calls for protectionism. They are therefore a necessary part of the process of strengthening the resolve for trade and investment liberalisation. In this regard, we welcome the ROK's decision to include global financial safety nets in the Seoul G-20 Summit agenda. As Professor Jomo had mentioned, we hope that the G-20 will also tap on the UN's vast expertise in this area.

• As a member of the Global Governance Group (3G), let me add that we look forward to working with the ROK, as host of the upcoming G-20 Summit, and to having regular consultations in the period leading up to the Summit.

.......