Secretary-General Welcomes General Assembly’s Endorsement of Addis Ababa Action Agenda as ‘Major Step’ on Path Towards Sustainable Development

Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks to the General Assembly on the adoption of the outcome document of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, in New York today:

Today, the General Assembly will take a major step on the path towards sustainable development and ending extreme poverty in all its forms.

By endorsing the outcome document of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, we launch a new era of cooperation and global partnership.

We provide the foundation for success at the Summit to Adopt the Post-2015 Development Agenda, in New York, in September, and at the Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in Paris, in December.

The Addis Ababa Action Agenda provides a new global framework for financing sustainable development.

It provides incentives for investment in areas of global need, and aligns financing flows and policies with economic, social and environmental priorities.

In addition to the agreements in the outcome document,  many initiatives were launched, including the Addis Tax Initiative, increased commitments from development banks, and a new financing partnership for women’s and children’s health.

The Addis Ababa Action Agenda provides a guide for actions by all stakeholders.

It has laid a strong foundation to support the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda, including the sustainable development goals.

The Action Agenda also provides a strong accountability mechanism.

Next year’s first Financing for Development Forum will give the international community an important opportunity to assess progress in implementation.

Only by staying engaged will we ensure that the commitments we endorse today will lead to tangible progress on the ground, in all countries and for all people.

Allow me to express my deepest appreciation to you, Mr. President, for your admirable stewardship during these last many months.  Your leadership, patience and diplomatic skill enabled us to have a successful outcome.

Let us also thank Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, who served as President of the Conference, and Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who was Chairman of the Main Committee, as well as the Government of Ethiopia for hosting this historic Conference and bringing it to a successful conclusion.

Their efforts, and those of the co-facilitators Ambassadors George Talbot of Guyana and Geir Pedersen of Norway, are greatly appreciated.

And I thank you, the Member States, for your engagement and flexibility in taking this critical step forward.  By showing such flexibility, you have forged this document for all the people of the world.

I thank Under Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Wu Hongbo for his efforts as Secretary-General of the Conference.

He and his staff worked with dedication for a successful outcome.

We are now firmly on the path to a more prosperous, just and sustainable world for this and future generations.

Thank you.