Speeches
29 Apr 2013Asia-Pacific’s continued rise is, by no means preordained. The path ahead is not without difficulties, and doing more of the same will not advance our shared development journey to the future we want. Success will require a different pattern of growth, cooperation, and partnership, to address the multiple risks and challenges that we currently face.
29 Apr 2013It is unacceptable that in the 21st century, with all of our technological and agricultural expertise, more than 870 million people globally wake up hungry every morning, try to find the energy to make a living for their families through the day, and then still go to bed hungry at night. Despite the good progress made in reducing extreme poverty, Asia-Pacific is still home to 563 million undernourished people – and 134 million of them are children under the age of five. Allowing children to go hungry is, essentially, stunting our shared future.
25 Apr 2013Our shared challenge, in the week ahead, is to use this intergovernmental platform of the 69th Commission session, to agree on the outlines of a framework for inclusive and sustainable development, which will drive our regional efforts, and strengthen the Asia-Pacific voice in global negotiations.
25 Apr 2013Least developed and landlocked developing countries of the Asia-Pacific region remain deeply vulnerable to external shocks. The post-2015 development agenda must continue to build resilience, productive capacity, and human security in support of these countries with special needs.
22 Apr 2013As our first regional meeting to follow-up on Rio+20, this meeting offers a platform to voice the views and priorities of the countries of Asia and the Pacific in the global processes, and to also outline Rio+20 follow up at the regional level.
25 Mar 2013Regional consultations by all five UN Regional Commissions have highlighted a number of priorities for the next phase of global development: we need to accelerate the implementation of the MDGs, but we also need a new development model to be based on structural changes for equality, inclusiveness, resilience and sustainable development, as a more integrated whole. It has to be a transformative post-2015 development agenda, that is people-centered, cares for our planet, and which generates shared and sustained prosperity.
8 Mar 2013The movement to end violence against women is perhaps the best example of transformational leadership, and the greatest success story of international mobilization and leadership around a specific human rights issue. It has led to our articulation of international norms and standards that say “never again!”
7 Mar 2013The post-2015 development agenda and any successor to the Almaty Programme of Action, should facilitate the renewed commitment of the international community to continued support for the LLDCs in addressing their challenges.
5 Mar 2013Despite many challenges faced by the LLDCs, I am optimistic. With the support and cooperation of transit countries and international community at large, LLDCs of the Asia-Pacific region not only can realize their full development potential, but can also play an important role as land-bridges in corridors of economic growth and prosperity.
