– As delivered –

Statement by H.E. Mrs. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, President of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly

28 September 2018

ASEAN-UN Ministerial Meeting

Dr. Balakrishnan, Chair of ASEAN,

Honorable Ministers,

Secretary-General,

ASEAN Secretary-General,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my great pleasure to join you here today. Thank you, Minister, for bringing us together and for your very thorough assessment of ASEAN work at this important meeting. I look forward to a healthy and dynamic discussion on the increasingly important relationship between the United Nations and ASEAN.

Before I begin, I would like to take the opportunity to commend Singapore for the leadership of ASEAN this year. Your efforts, together with Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi and the wider group of Member States, have all helped to strengthen unity and centrality within ASEAN which is a welcome sign for multilateralism.

 

Excellencies,

I would like to raise three key points today:

  • First, I would like to commend the existing ASEAN-UN collaboration;
  • Second, I would like to briefly mention my theme and priorities for the 73rd session of the General Assembly; and
  • Third, I would emphasize ASEAN’s important role in peace and security and sustainable development, noting areas where we can build on this together.

On the first point, I would like to express my deep appreciation for the continuing relations between the UN and ASEAN. I personally have the opportunity to engage with the ASEAN group in New York on substantive issues this year. The cooperation between ASEAN and the UN, at a time when multilateralism is under threat, is reassuring. The ASEAN Way of consensus and cooperation, indeed, constitutes a strong pillar for multilateralism.

I should make a related point. In the eyes of the world, the test for effective multilateralism will be the results of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. The work of ASEAN to find complementarities between the SDGs and ASEAN Community Vision 2025, efforts to conclude the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and the ASEAN Smart Cities Network again give the world a lesson in multilateral cooperation. I commend Singapore for working with ASEAN and external partners to forge a “resilient and innovative ASEAN”.

The cooperation between ASEAN and the UN, at a time when multilateralism is under threat, is reassuring. The ASEAN Way of consensus and cooperation, indeed, constitutes a strong pillar for multilateralism. 

María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés

President of the UN General Assembly

Excellencies,

I will now turn to my second point. As you are aware, the theme of the 73rd session is to ‘Make the United Nations Relevant to All People: Global leadership and shared responsibilities for peaceful, equitable and sustainable societies.’

Under this theme, I have identified seven priority areas that I hope will make the UNGA more inclusive for all people, more responsive and thus relevant to global needs. These are: gender equality; decent work for all; migration and refugees; persons with disabilities; the environment and climate action; youth, peace and security; and finally, but not less important, the UN reform agenda and revitalization of the General Assembly.

ASEAN has been very constructive in the past, contributing to the successful outcomes on management reform and repositioning of the UN development system and I count on your support for my priorities and a productive 73rd session.

On that note, and before closing, allow me to make my third point, which is a proposal for a greater partnership with ASEAN on Youth, Peace & Security issues.

With a youth population of more than 213 million people, ASEAN’s role is pivotal in pushing forward on this agenda. I look forward to engaging with ASEAN on ideas for greater collaboration with youth in the ASEAN region, as this will be essential for ensuring sustainable and inclusive peace.

I would like also to commend ASEAN’s contributions and role in peacekeeping operations, denuclearization efforts in the Korean Peninsula, and humanitarian assistance.

 

Dear friends,

ASEAN can count on my full support and commitment to our common goals, including for the adoption of the resolution on the Cooperation between the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

I very much look forward to working with you in the year ahead.

Thank you very much.