[Translated from French]

I am very honoured to be in Belgium today. It’s my third visit to Belgium. I have congratulated the Prime Minister for his nomination. I do hope that we will closely work together to face all the challenges we will encounter.

Belgium is a partner. I am very pleased that the UN and Belgium have such an excellent relationship. I hope that under your leadership we will closely work together. Today we have discussed a wide variety of subjects, including the situations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Afghanistan. We have also discussed the issue of sustainable development.

[Original English]

We are very happy to have such a strong support and generous contribution of the Belgian government. I regard Belgium as a very strong Partner of the United Nations and that is why when I was first elected as Secretary-General, this is the first country I visited in early 2007 in January, and I’m also very happy to visit Belgium at such an early stage of my second term as Secretary-General. That means I attach great importance in maintaining such a good relationship with Belgium.

On the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), I really appreciate Belgium’s contributions. And I understand that the Foreign Minister was in DRC last month. We have been working very closely to help peace and stability in DRC.

We discussed in length about how we can work together to make this sustainable development a great success for humanity and this is a once in a lifetime, once-in-a-generation opportunity to address; starting from climate change, the water issue, the energy issue and global health, gender empowerment, healthy oceans and all other global challenges will be discussed in a more comprehensive and integrated manner. And I am very much encouraged that the Prime Minister has assured himself that he will be participating in that Summit meeting. I am now working with all world leaders so that they could come and exercise their political leadership. These issues are very difficult and complex issues that should not be left only to the negotiators. We need some political direction on all these issues.

I am also very happy to visit, from tomorrow, the European Commission and European Union and I am looking forward to having my meetings with President Barroso and President Van Rompuy and High Representative Catherine Ashton to discuss all the policy matters, regional conflict issues as well as development issues, particularly. My participation in the EU Summit on Energy will be a very important agenda this time.

Again, briefly, I just stated my appreciation to the Prime Minister and I wish him all the best, and I am very happy that Belgium has formed a government after such a long time. But I am sure that with its diversity, Belgium will continue to prosper and I wish you all the best and thank you very much for your hospitality.

Thank you, Prime Minister.