I thank Stanford University and the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center for hosting this conversation.

I am very honoured to be here again.

You are part of a grand academic tradition that has raised many important global leaders in politics and business.

You are the birthplace of household names – Hewlett Packard; Google; Netflix; Instagram, Paypal, Snapchat.

Many of my senior advisors are also Stanford alumni.

I am grateful to this institution for its contributions to the world.

I also always appreciate the chance to visit California.

This is the first place I visited outside of Korea, more than 50 years ago, as part of a Red Cross exchange programme.

I was a simple country boy.  South Korea was a poor country, still devastated by the war less than ten years before.  

Our group travelled around the country.  We even met President John F. Kennedy in the Rose Garden.

That meeting left an indelible impression on me.

It lit the passion for public service that has driven me ever since.

Earlier today we celebrated the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Charter.

Born here in California, this noble Organization has been a beacon of hope for peace, prosperity and human rights for seven decades.

It has its detractors, and we have had our failures, but we all know the world could have been more dangerous, poorer, hungrier and more unhealthy without the United Nations.

The seventieth anniversary of the United Nations is a good moment to reflect on the past, but even more importantly, a time to have a conversation about what we can do to build a better future.  That is what I would like to do today.

This is a crucial year with major opportunities in the months ahead.

In September in New York, the international community, together with the world's leaders, will adopt a new sustainable development agenda, including a set of Sustainable Development Goals.

The new agenda will build on the gains of the past two decades, when hundreds of millions of people have been lifted out of extreme poverty.  We want to finish the job while going further to build effective institutions, stable societies and lives of dignity for all.

In December in Paris, countries must adopt a new and meaningful climate change agreement.  Climate change is happening much, much faster than we think.  A bold new climate agreement in Paris can help us make a much-needed transition to low-carbon, resilient economies that provide prosperity while protecting the planet.

Before both of these events, in July in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the global community hopes to agree on a framework of financing for sustainable development to ensure we have the resources and technology to make our promises a reality.

These are three global meetings but one universal agenda.  These three stops – Addis Ababa, New York and Paris - give us the last chance to avoid the worst impacts of climate change and our best chance to end poverty.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Climate change is the defining challenge of this generation.

But it is not the only test we must face.

We are in the fifth year of a devastating conflict in Syria that continues to worsen.  Humanitarian suffering in Yemen is affecting millions of people.  South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, is suffering from 18 months of civil strife.  More than 4.5 million people are severely food insecure.

These and other conflicts, along with poverty, persecution and other ills, have generated nearly 60 million refugees and displaced persons -- the most since the end of the Second World War. 

The United Nations is working hard to address these challenges.

Globally, UN peace operations are at a crossroads. The number of UN peace missions on the ground is higher than ever. Their mandates have expanded and become more complex.

Many have had to deploy into environments where there is little peace to keep.  They are given ambitious mandates to protect civilians in the midst of ongoing conflict.

That is why I decided to urgently carry out a fresh review of peace operations.

I also intend to present a UN Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism to the General Assembly later this year.

In April, I convened religious leaders from around the world at the United Nations to promote tolerance, reconciliation and dialogue.  We must take care to ensure that our responses to violent extremism do not make problems worse. 

Our response must always be based on human rights and the rule of law.

When counter-terrorism efforts ignore the rule of law and violate fundamental rights, they not only betray the values they seek to uphold, but can also end up further fuelling violent extremism.

The United Nations is also strengthening its efforts to prevent human rights violations.

The Human Rights Up Front initiative aims to strengthen early action, and to address problems before they escalate into atrocities.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Let me offer a few reflections on Asia and the Pacific.

The engines of growth and economic power continue to shift with the rise of the Asia-Pacific region as a centre of dynamism and influence. 

I welcome the growing global prominence and engagement of China and India, key Member States and close partners of the United Nations on many of the Organization’s priority areas.

This is also a key year for efforts to establish the ASEAN Community.  I look forward to seeing regional economic integration, including free movement of goods, services, investment, skilled labour and a freer flow of capital. 

Asia also faces challenges that could put at risk our goals of prosperity, stability and dignity for all. These include competing territorial or maritime claims, political and communal tensions, and non-traditional security threats such as transnational organized crime and terrorism.

I have consistently called on all parties to resolve their disputes in the South China Sea in a peaceful and amicable manner, through dialogue and in conformity with international law, including the UN Charter. It is now more important than ever to avoid actions that would provoke or exacerbate tensions.

Southeast Asia is also experiencing a migration crisis, as people in search of asylum are being left trapped at sea.  Saving lives must be the number one priority.  Resolving this complex situation also requires addressing the root causes of migration, which include human rights violations and lack of economic opportunities.

I remain very concerned at the plight of the Rohingya Muslim community in Myanmar. Three years after the inter-communal violence in western Rakhine state, some 130,000 still remain in camps requiring urgent humanitarian assistance.

The United Nations has, through various channels, strongly urged the government of Myanmar to ensure that the human rights of the Rohingya and other Muslim populations are fully respected and that the longer-term issues of citizenship, identity permits, work permits, and birth registration are properly addressed.

In Northeast Asia, I welcome the reciprocal visits by the leaders of Japan and the Republic of Korea, marking the 50th anniversary of the normalization of Republic of Korea-Japan relations.  I am encouraged that both countries are exhibiting a spirit of cooperation.

I regret that relations between North and South Korea remain at a low ebb.  Improved relations would benefit both nations and the region as a whole.  That is why I offered to visit the Kaesong Industrial Complex. 

While I regret the DPRK’s decision to cancel my recently planned visit to the Kaesong Industrial Complex, I remain dedicated to doing whatever it takes to contribute to improving inter-Korean relations and promoting reconciliation and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

Ladies and gentlemen,

We live in an age of great challenge and great opportunity.

This university stands at the forefront of our quest for solutions.

I count on your continued leadership, and look forward to our conversation.

Thank you.