The Secretary-General met today with H.E. Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, on the margins of the Third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction.

The Secretary-General noted that Japan is an exemplary Member State, expressing his appreciation for its contributions to all areas of the Organization's work.

He said that this year provides an unprecedented opportunity for sustainable development. Through the meetings, he said, in Sendai on disaster risk reduction, Addis Ababa on financing for development, New York on the post-2015 development agenda, and Paris on climate change, the international community can finally take action to eradicate poverty and put the world on a sustainable development path.

The Secretary-General and the Prime Minister conferred on countering violent extremism and addressing the threat posed by Daesh. The Secretary-General expressed his condolences to the Japanese Government and people for the horrendous killings of Kenji Goto and Haruna Yukawa by Daesh.

The Secretary-General and the Prime Minister also discussed Syria, including the upcoming donor conference in Kuwait, as well as Middle East peace and UN reform.