Secretary-General, at G7 Summit Session, Urges Smart Decisions, Universal Access to Financing, Expertise to Curb Global Temperature Rise

Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks at the Group of Seven (G7) Summit Outreach Session 1: Stability and Prosperity in Asia, today in Ise-Shima, Japan:

Thank you Mr. Prime Minister [Abe] for inviting the United Nations and for your leadership in promoting your prosperity and stability in Asia.  G7 support to durable and resilient twenty-first century infrastructure is a vital contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals in general.  

There are urgent decisions to be made about the design and construction of cities, energy facilities, schools, hospitals and transport systems.  Populations of many locations are growing faster than their infrastructure and basic services provide. 

The decisions must be right if the rise in global temperature is to be less than 2 degrees.  The decisions must be smart to avoid the continuation of bad and dangerous practices.  The transformation will not be easy: all countries and all sectors need access to needed financing and technical expertise.

Here are my proposals:  First:  Ensure that all infrastructure is designed and implemented to be economically, socially and environmentally sustainable.  Make sure it contributes to inclusive growth and equity.  In that regard, I commend the leadership of Japanese Prime Minister Abe in having the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, which was adopted last March in Japan.  And I count on your contribution to this resilience framework.

Second: Use the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as the common framework for accountability.  That will lead to stability and prosperity for all.  Third:  Engage in the Global Infrastructure Forum, launched by the World Bank in April.  Your support will give it strength and depth.  

Now to a different but equally urgent challenge in Asia:  Several Asian countries are claiming the same territory and maritime areas.  I have called on all concerned to resolve disputes through dialogue in a peaceful and amicable manner, in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law — such as the United Nations Charter and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

I hope that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China reach agreement quickly on a code of conduct under the framework of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

Second, more seriously and worrying situation is on the Korean peninsula.  I appreciate the very firm and united position of the G7, which was discussed and announced yesterday, against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s continued provocative actions by strengthening their nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities.  We must make sure that all relevant Security Council resolutions, sanction measures, be fully implemented so that North Korea should understand that their continuing provocation, and investing in and nuclear ballistic missile, will only make their situation insecure and make their people starve.

At the same time, just to reduce the tensions on the Korean Peninsula, I would encourage the countries concerned, particularly the Six Party Talks partners, to continue to find a way to reduce tensions by engaging in peaceful dialogue with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

As your Secretary-General I request you — at all times — to work together in the spirit of cooperation, dialogue, economic complementarity, fair competition and respect of international law.