SECRETARY-GENERAL, IN MESSAGE TO X PRIZE GLOBAL CONFERENCE, STRESSES POWER

OF PARTNERSHIPS IN CREATING SYNERGY NEEDED TO TACKLE MAJOR CHALLENGES

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message to the X Prize Global Conference, “Incentive 2 Innovate”, delivered by Amir Dossal, Director of the United Nations Office for Partnerships, in New York today, 8 June

The United Nations is pleased to host this important conference.  I welcome you with high hopes for success.

Innovative solutions, as well as partnerships between the public and private sectors, are essential to reaching the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, our targets for combating poverty and a range of other social ills by the year 2015.

That is why I was pleased to learn that you will be discussing the pressing issues of health care, energy and sustainable development at this conference.  These challenges are interrelated.  They top the agenda of the United Nations and the global community.  And they will only be met when we join forces in response.

I am also very encouraged by the diversity of your gathering.  By bringing together Government officials, business executives and philanthropists, you are creating conditions for powerful contacts that can lead to concrete plans and actions.

This kind of synergy is essential as we confront the major threats plaguing our world.  Widespread poverty is worsening because of financial turmoil.  Six million children now die of malnutrition before their fifth birthday.  Climate change threatens havoc in all countries.

We have the power to change this deplorable state of affairs by fostering continuous collaboration among all partners.  By bringing knowledge, resources and innovation together, you can link sustainability with opportunities.  This in turn can contribute to economic growth and recovery.

Thank you again for your support of the United Nations.  You are very well placed to find the fresh ideas, new partnerships and multilateral solutions our times demand.  I wish you every success in these timely and important discussions.

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For information media • not an official record