At the outset, allow me, on behalf of my Government and the people of Solomon Islands, to convey our warmest greetings to the President and the members of the General Assembly. We offer our warmest congratulations to the President on her election to preside over the General Assembly at its seventy-third session. I am confident that she will ably guide our deliberations during the current session. I assure her of my delegation’s full support and cooperation during her tenure in office. I also commend and thank her predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Miroslav Lajcák, for his sterling stewardship of the previous session, and we thank him for his leadership.
Solomon Islands also joins other members in mourning the loss of the late Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General and a proud son of Ghana and Africa. We acknowledge his immense contributions to the work of our Organization. The late Kofi Annan was truly a global statesman.
I welcome the theme chosen for this session. It reflects the ultimate goal that this organ strives to achieve. “Making the United Nations relevant to all people: global leadership and shared responsibilities for peaceful, equitable and sustainable societies” is indeed a powerful theme. It speaks of a united world, with both equal responsibilities and equal opportunities. It also speaks of the need to be united in order to achieve peace and tranquillity among all our nations and peoples.
The implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of Agenda 2030 requires a unified global partnership, and the achievement of those Goals requires the concerted efforts of all stakeholders to  mobilize all available resources. Agenda 2030 recognizes that by acting together we can conquer the inequities that have befallen us today, be they man-made or natural. The Goals also reflect the Preamble to the Charter of the United Nations, which speaks powerfully of our mission to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, the dignity and worth of the human person and the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small. The Preamble clearly articulates the principle of universality for all peoples and all nations regardless of their size.
Unfortunately, the world has entered an era in which the foundation and strengths of multilateralism are being challenged and undermined by unilateral State posturing and manoeuvres. We have seen a proliferation of insularly focused policies on the part of some countries, causing them to renege on their commitments under various international frameworks and treaties. The United Nations enables us to

consolidate our collective resolve and solidarity for the maintenance of international peace and security, promote sustainable development, advance respect for human rights and promote the rule of law.
Solomon Islands reaffirms its commitment to achieving the SDGs by 2030. To that end, we have incorporated the SDGs into our national development strategy for the period 2016-2035. We also welcome the midterm review of the small islands developing States (SIDS)  Accelerated  Modalities  of  Action  Pathway. It is my hope that the outcomes of the review will provide the impetus needed to reinvigorate the special case for SIDS going forward. The review should also ensure that all partners and stakeholders, together with SIDS, more effectively address the challenges faced by SIDS and take full advantage of opportunities through genuine and durable partnerships. Solomon Islands acknowledges that achieving the SDGs  will  be an arduous and challenging task. However, it is a path that we must trek. We welcome all the assistance and support we have received from our development partners towards that cause.
This year Solomon Islands met two of the three criteria for graduation from the status of a least developed country (LDC) for the second consecutive time. The Committee for Development Policy recommended that Solomon Islands graduate from the list of LDCs. The Economic and Social Council has also recommended that this organ consider and endorse our graduation accordingly.
While my Government appreciates  the report  and its recommendations, I must point out that, as a post-conflict State, Solomon Islands will require the development of appropriate prudent macroeconomic and financial policies in order to maintain the threshold indicators upon which the recommendation for graduation is premised. It is therefore my fervent hope that the Assembly will grant Solomon Islands an opportunity to properly assess the potential impacts  of LDC graduation on the key sectors that sustain our economy. A predictable and workable strategy that would put us on a continued upward trajectory will need to be developed as well. I call on the United Nations system to support us in those assessments and in the development of appropriate strategies that could assist us to move forward boldly and with confidence.
The Solomon Islands Government respects the process of graduation, which is based on an agreed
rules-based system, and we will endeavour to graduate from the LDC status. However, any appropriate and relevant assessment undertaken of the country must  be well-conceived, thorough and consultative. As Members States are aware, the graduation of SIDS from LDC status will not improve the problem of our vulnerabilities. In that connection, we are pleased to know that a special task force has been established to ensure a smooth transition of SIDS from LDC status.
While we in Solomon Islands are not subject to threats of an armed invasion, we are nevertheless continuously being invaded by a common enemy, one that the international community calls climate change. Climate change is now the greatest threat facing humankind. For us in the Pacific islands that threat is existential. The resulting climate-change-related extreme weather events mean that Solomon Islands — like other  Pacific island countries and, as we have just heard,  the Caribbean — is increasingly susceptible to natural disasters of great severity. The threat of sea-level rise, as well as the inundation and salination of arable land and the destruction of biodiversity, partially caused by a warming ocean and acidification, are elements that give rise to food-security concerns, and increase the risk of potential conflicts.
In the light of that threat, Solomon Islands calls for collective global leadership on climate change action and strengthened commitment to achieving positive outcomes during the  twenty-fourth  session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is to be held in Katowice, Poland, this year. Solomon Islands joins other Pacific island States in strongly urging the largest emitters of greenhouse gases to take urgent actions to reduce those harmful emissions: reduce now, or regret later. In the ongoing dialogue on climate challenge, appropriate financial support to SIDS to address their losses and the damage resulting from the destructive effects of climate change must be seriously considered.
In our efforts to reduce our reliance on fossil  fuels and meet our intended nationally determined contributions, Solomon Islands remains committed to transitioning to the use of renewable energy. On behalf of my Government and the people of Solomon Islands, I extend our gratitude to our partners, including the World Bank, the Green Climate Fund, the Economic Development Cooperation Fund of Korea, the Australian Development Assistance Bureau and the

Asian Development Bank, for their financial assistance and support for the Tina River hydrodevelopment project. When completed, that project will provide approximately 80 per cent of the power needs of Honiara, our capital. I also acknowledge the bilateral assistance provided by the Governments of Italy, Spain, Austria and Luxembourg to the Pacific small island developing States, including Solomon Islands, to support renewable energy projects. We look forward to continuing those partnerships in the coming years.
Adequate and quality infrastructure is a prerequisite for positive economic and inclusive growth. Investment in infrastructure projects positively impacts a majority of the population and enhances accessibility to goods and services, both private and public. In that connection, Solomon Islands is grateful to the Government and the people of Japan for their assistance in implementing the transformative development of major infrastructure, such as the Honiara city main roads, the Honiara seaport and the proposed upgrade of Honiara International Airport. The opening of the second international airport, in Munda, and the undersea fibre-optic cables are also game-changing infrastructures. The people and the Government of Solomon Islands are grateful for that valuable assistance from Australia and New Zealand.
Solomon Islands has benefited from South-South cooperation on capacity-development programmes with countries such as Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Cuba, including the potential to explore other innovative opportunities such as pharmaceutical solutions. The people of Solomon Islands are forever grateful to all of our development partners for their genuine and durable partnerships. We will collaborate and increase efforts going forward.
As a large ocean State, the issue of the conservation and proper management of ocean resources is an important priority for Solomon Islands. We will actively engage on matters concerning the management of oceans. With regard  to  oceans  management  on the high seas, my Government welcomes the recent first intergovernmental conference to negotiate an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. A successful outcome in the form of a fair and equitable framework will again prove the relevance of the Organization and its convening powers.
At the regional level, Solomon Islands subscribes to the Blue Pacific initiative, which sets the context for the development of our regional priorities. We believe that maintaining the well-being of the oceans should be a key priority, as acknowledged in SDG 14. The restoration of fish stocks, the implementation of science-based management measures and monitoring, control and enforcement are but some of the measures that Solomon Islands is promoting through domestic and regional arrangements.
At the national level, I am pleased to inform the Assembly that we are in the final stages of developing an ocean policy that will rationalize and enhance the coordination and implementation of all ocean-related legislation and policies. The development of the national policy is a voluntary commitment that we announced at last year’s Ocean Conference.
Security concerns have become more complex. They now involve activities beyond the traditional definitions. Some of them now include new threats such as climate change, cybercrimes and transnational organized crime, among others. It is therefore now more important than ever that we work more closely and collectively with the international community to address those security concerns and threats.
This year we witnessed constructive engagement towards the better management of relations on the Korean peninsula. The United Nations must continue to ensure that conflict prevention and resolution remain a central plank in its work, as mandated by the Charter of the United Nations.
Solomon Islands recognizes that stability in the Middle East is critical to world peace. A peaceful Middle East will lead to a prosperous world. Solomon Islands also continues to call for the peaceful settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and supports a two- State solution.
In the Pacific, security concerns are driven by external factors, human security and climate-change challenges. In recognizing the importance of our changing security landscape, the Pacific Islands Forum leaders undertook to build on the positive platform established by the Biketawa Declaration. That culminated in our adoption, earlier this month, of the Boe Declaration at the recent Pacific Islands Forum summit held in Nauru. As we continue to work towards the goal of global peace, the need to actively engage in peacekeeping remains.

Although small, Solomon Islands is contributing to the achievement of global peace and security through its participation in the United Nations peacekeeping programme. So far, Solomon Islands has contributed
12 officers to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. Solomon Islands is committed to increasing its participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions. Cognizant of the important role of United Nations peacekeeping missions, we call on Member States to work collectively to ensure that the sustainability of United Nations programmes is not undermined by funding shortfalls. Having benefited from the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands, my country values the importance of peacekeeping missions.
Adequate resources are required in order to sustain peace. I am sure that the international community also recognizes that. In that connection, Solomon Islands has benefited from the Peacebuilding Fund, approved by the Peacebuilding Commission in November 2017. Through the resources provided under the Peacebuilding Fund, we have been able to facilitate dialogue involving a wide range of stakeholders on key issues, including land reform, rural development, border issues and the participation of youth and women.
Recognizing the complex and ever-changing global-security landscape and realities, Solomon Islands reiterates the call for the reforms of the Security Council to be inclusive, by expanding the focus of the Council to non-traditional security priorities. Small island developing  States must  have  a  voice  through a dedicated seat in the non-permanent membership category in the Council.
The biggest threat facing the Pacific islands,  apart from climate change, is the threat caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Approximately 70 to 80 per cent of all deaths in the Pacific can be attributed to NCDs, with many of those deaths being premature. In the Pacific, including in Solomon Islands, the high prevalence of NCDs translates into an economic burden on health-care systems. Two thirds of the beds in the National Referral Hospital in Honiara, our capital, are occupied by NCD patients. The burden that NCDs poses on the productivity of the people of Solomon Islands and the opportunities forgone in order to provide care for NCD patients make that issue a key socioeconomic concern for an economy with a small human-resource base. The international community has already acknowledged, in the Samoa Pathway, the
challenges posed by NCDs to small island developing States. Now is the time for action.
While we speak of leaving no one behind, we still close our doors to Taiwan and continue to contradict our own principles by leaving Taiwan’s 23 million people behind. The implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals requires a unified global partnership. Taiwan is ready, willing and able to engage in, and contribute to, the wide range of substantive United Nations programmes for the welfare of humankind. Solomon Islands continues to call for the participation of Taiwan in United Nations specialized bodies, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the World Health Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization. Taiwan is the twenty-second-largest economy in the world and, as such, Taiwan should be part of global solutions in the various international frameworks. I believe that Taiwan has a lot to contribute through its experience and technological capability. If we are to focus on shared responsibility and promote peaceful, equitable and sustainable societies, we should give Taiwan and its 23 million people a chance. Despite the contributions made by Taiwan to the well-being of the citizens of the globe, we continue to ignore the right of Taiwan to self- determination. The time has come for the Assembly to give due recognition to Taiwan as a legitimate member of the family of nations.
It is important that the administering Powers of non-self-governing territories and all the relevant organizations honour their commitments made under the Charter and the 1960 Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and  Peoples. To that end and in accordance with the 1998 Nouméa Accord, Solomon Islands welcomes the free and fair referendum to be held in New Caledonia on 4 November. Solomon Islands reaffirms that human rights principles are universal, indivisible and interrelated  and  must be treated in a fair manner. All States have the moral duty and responsibility to uphold, respect and promote human rights and, where necessary, take preventive, protective and punitive measures against human rights abuses and violations.
Solomon Islands recognizes and respects Indonesia’s sovereignty over its territorial boundaries. My Government commits to working with the Government of Indonesia on areas of mutual interest, including human rights concerns in Papua and West Papua.

Solomon Islands is committed to the principles of good governance and transparency. We have passed  an anti-corruption act, which aims to eliminate the scourge of corruption from all levels of our society. In addition, our Parliament has passed a whistle-blower protection act, thereby giving due protection to those who bring issues of corruption to the attention of the relevant authorities. Solomon Islands is also committed to democratic principles and processes. We are equally committed to the holding of free and fair elections in early 2019.
Solomon Islands is an ardent believer in collective action. We are staunch supporters of multilateralism. As such, we stand  in  solidarity  with  all  members  of the Assembly — the pinnacle of multilateralism. Without the United Nations, we would not, as a small island country, be able to be heard. Other louder  voices would drown us out. Our expectations from the Organization remain high. As such, adequate resources for programmes and projects that will have an impact on citizens are needed. The United Nations has flaws, but Solomon Islands continues to feel the impact of the power of working together on global issues that are championed by the United Nations. We believe that the principles and values upon which the United Nations was founded remain relevant.
Making the United Nations relevant to all people is not just about standing up and talking about it  in  the General Assembly Hall. It is incumbent upon us all to be seen as making the United Nations relevant to all peoples in the actions that we take individually and collectively.


There once was a widow who suffered an injustice. She went to a judge and told him, “Judge, I have suffered an injustice. Give me justice.” The judge did nothing, so the next day she went to his office. Still he did nothing, so she went to his house during breakfast time and knocked on the door and said, “Judge, give me justice.” Still nothing happened. Finally, she waited for him at night before dinnertime and still he would not see her. So, she went at midnight and knocked on his door and woke him up. Finally, the judge went out and told her, “You know, ma’am, I do not fear God, nor do I fear man, but because of your persistence, I will give you justice.”
We all grew up with stories, anecdotes and parables — stories that give us hope, build our character and spark our determination to change the world. We are told those stories at home, in schools and in places
of worship. Thus, we come out of adolescence and enter adulthood with an idealism that makes us convinced that we can change the world, that we are here to unite and not to divide, that we are here to heal and not to hurt.
That is the same spirit of idealism that we feel the first time we enter the United Nations. Unfortunately, as time goes by, many, if not most, of us are changed by the world. We become victims of pragmatism rather than champions of idealism. As things get complicated and struggles get more difficult, we are tempted to simply continue doing what is already being done and accept that we cannot solve the problem. When that happens, we settle for a statement from the majority rather than a broad consensus on how to actually solve the problem.
The story reminds us that persistence  is  good, but it does not mean that we should be repetitive and simply keep doing the same thing. Albert Einstein defined stupidity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Certainly there is no stupidity in the United Nations, yet a  tendency  to just keep doing the same thing seems to plague us all. Trying new things is a challenge. It might or might not work, but we should not be afraid of trying, nor should we be afraid of failing. What we should fear is stagnation — that we as a community of nations end up accepting failure and making ourselves feel better by doing something, even if that something is precisely the same thing that failed to address the issues or solve the problems in the first place.
The good news is that there is persistence in what we call hope and idealism, in the aspiration of wanting to change the world. We teach our children to love God and to love our neighbour. But do we actually practice what we preach? So much inhumanity around the world has been done in the name of God, and so little is being done at times for our neighbours.
We live in a world that is fast becoming bigger,  but also constantly getting smaller. From families to clans, to tribes to a federation of tribes that we call a nation, now we are but one global village. And with tools like the Internet and  social  media,  everything is known and communicated in real time. Nowadays we are all neighbours, all members of the same global community. We rise up together; we suffer together. Being connected to each other all the time has transformed the world into a global community, and we are all citizens of this world.

Today, our social contract is no  longer  confined to our nation State. We should therefore exert efforts to connect, to emphasize commonalities and not differences, to think less that we are Filipinos, Americans, Chinese, French or Russians, and to think of ourselves more as global citizens, the people of the United Nations. Yes, it is true that we need not always act with a united front, and we  do  not  always  have  to act as a community. But neither can we ignore the fact that there are many problems that can be solved only by a united global community. These can be issues relating to protecting the environment, extreme weather conditions, poverty and inequality, rule of law, countering terrorism or violent extremism: those are problems or challenges that we can only solve together. Together we can find pragmatic idealism, which will give us hope and the momentum to do more.
It  is written: “Love thy neighbour”. Migration is  a reality. It is a fact. It is something that will continue to exist and even to grow. Issues relating to migration cannot be swept under the rug, but should be discussed openly, frankly and thoroughly. The global compact for migration is a huge step in the right direction, and that huge step will be even bigger if we can get everyone on board.
Again, “Love thy neighbour”, we are told. That seems like a simple command, and yet in a complex world it is sometimes hard to carry out or implement. That is why Filipinos thank Pope Francis, and we thank Secretary-General Guterres and all the countries thathave led and stood by the global compact. We thank migrants around the world for inspiring us to have the first compact negotiated at the intergovernmental level to cover, in a holistic and comprehensive manner, all dimensions of international migration.
The Philippines, under the leadership of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, is one with the United Nations in being uncompromising on the issues of the rule of law, just and equitable peace, which leads to order, development and prosperity, and the protection of each and every human being’s rights. As a sovereign and democratic country led by a duly elected President, we are on track to salvage our deteriorating country from becoming a narco-State or a State held hostage by the rich and powerful, who ignore the plight of the poor, powerless and marginalized.
The hunger for change, peace, and law and order
is genuine. There is passion to improve our economy,
so that the more than 10 million Filipinos abroad can choose whether to work at  home  or  abroad and  not be forced by poverty or the lack of quality jobs to go abroad to find high-paying jobs at the cost of leaving their country and separating from their families. Those who stay at home can, at the very least, live a safe and comfortable life.
We may somehow and sometimes differ in how we express ourselves; yet that should not be interpreted  as turning our backs on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. On the contrary, the Philippines and President Duterte are instituting all of those reforms so as to be able to protect the rights of every single Filipino and every single human being living in the Philippines — yes, the rights of all Filipinos and all human beings, if that is at all possible. But in cases where we have to choose between protecting the rights of a law-abiding citizen and the law enforcer versus the drug lord or criminal who seeks to kill and destroy, it is clear that we will protect the former — the law enforcer and the law-abiding citizen. Would Members of the United Nations not do the same? Which country, which leader would not do the same? Who would not protect their citizens and their law enforcers?
Challenges will always be there, but so will hope! Hope leads to faith, and faith combined with action produces miracles. The United Nations is the place, the venue of great opportunity for adding action to our faith and for changing the world for the better. That is, of course, provided we can transcend our personal and sometimes national interest for the interest of the global community or, simply put, work for the greater good. Faith without action is dead. The United Nations is not a place to bury our dead; it is a place to rise up, to resurrect our hopes and to dream of a better world.
The President of the General Assembly, Ms. Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, provides us with hope and something to aspire to, as seen in this year’s theme: “Making the United Nations relevant to all people: global leadership and shared responsibilities for peaceful, equitable and sustainable societies”. Making the United Nations relevant to all is difficult. It is a dream; yet it is a dream worth fighting for. The Filipino people will remain persistent in our quest for peace, order, development and prosperity, and in the  quest for a safe and comfortable life for all those living in the Philippines. We will continue to have faith but will add actions to our faith, and we will continue to love

our nation and not only preach but actually do what  we preach.
And finally, we would like to close our statement by expressing our sincere and profound gratitude to all the countries and peoples that have assisted us, stood with us and lifted us up when we needed it most. God bless all present. God bless all the peoples of the United Nations.


Allow me at the outset to express my warm and fraternal congratulations to Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés on her outstanding election to  preside  over the General Assembly at its  seventy-third  session. Her vast experience in international political affairs will undoubtedly contribute greatly to the successful conduct of the work of the Assembly. In our capacity as Vice-President elected by the Assembly, we assure her of our full support in carrying out her noble task.
I would also like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Mr. Miroslav Lajčák for his dedicated commitment in the way he managed the previous session. I am also deeply grateful to Secretary-General
António Guterres for his enlightened leadership and for his laudable initiatives since he assumed his post. His efforts  are  aimed  at  giving  renewed impetus  to our Organization, particularly in the essential domains pertaining to international peace, security and development.
It is highly regrettable that the entire world continues to experience an unprecedented and multifaceted crisis; the Secretary-General was right in warning about the risks that that entails. He rightly warned that conflicts had worsened and that new dangers are emerging (see A/73/PV.6). Global concerns related to nuclear weapons have not reached the current level since the Second World War. Environmental imbalances are occurring faster than our responses can deal with them, and the gap resulting from the current differences is growing wider, while gross human rights violations are taking place and nationalism and xenophobia are on the rise.
In the context of the advanced and inevitable growth in globalization that we face, the seriousness of those colossal challenges, both old and new, are aggravated by the perverse effects of the continuing  economic and financial crisis. Against that backdrop,  which  has become even more alarming owing to the recent appearance of unilateral and protectionist trends, we must have the courage to recognize the inadequacy and futility of the policies that have been implemented to date and the structural deficiencies of the increasingly ineffective global governance architecture.
When he acceded to the presidency of the General Assembly at its twenty-ninth session, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika warned that membership in the United Nations was not enough to protect nations against hunger and insecurity (see A/PV.2233). Today, we can no longer accept the perpetuation of an international order that does not encourage the international values of peace, justice and development, as well as science and technology, while contributing to improving living conditions. That order has concentrated economic and financial resources in the hands of a small minority, widening the existing gap that separates the richest from the poorest countries and peoples. The unfortunate conclusion is that we are facing a real moral crisis.
I would like to commend the rightness and appropriateness of the theme chosen for our session. Indeed, now more than ever, the United Nations must find ways and means that enable it to fully play the role that its founding fathers envisioned for it following

the devastation of a global confrontation. Such a vital objective for the entire international community cannot be achieved without a renewed collective commitment to effective and real multilateralism, in harmony with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations — a commitment to which the former Secretary-General, the late Kofi Annan, a worthy son of Africa and a committed citizen of the world, dedicated his life and with which he associated his name. While the United Nations remains the distinctive forum for dialogue and cooperation among the nations of the world, it must also bring about the desired change.
In our view, the genuine change that we seek and which is of the utmost priority requires us to mobilize all our capabilities and efforts with a view to reforming the United Nations itself. It is imperative that the reform should involve both the structures and the operating methods of the Organization, particularly the Security Council, by paying particular attention in the first place to redressing the historical injustice done to the African continent in terms of its underrepresentation in both membership categories of that body. The reform must also include the revitalization of the role of the General Assembly and the strengthening of its authority — a necessity around which there is, fortunately, a growing consensus.
Conscious of our responsibilities and contributions to the maintenance of international peace and security and with full respect for the cardinal principles of our foreign policy, Algeria follows with particular interest the crises and conflicts facing the countries in our region. While continuing to fully play our role to the best of our ability, my country reiterates its conviction, on the basis of our own experience, that conflicts cannot be totally resolved without promoting solutions that are owned by the parties concerned and reached through inclusive dialogue and that place national interests above all other considerations, thereby preserving the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of States. Whether related to the situations in Mali, Libya, Syria or Yemen, only such an approach can enable those sisterly countries to restore peace and stability so that they may begin their rebuilding process.
With regard to the Western Sahara issue, which comes before the United Nations as an issue of decolonization, Algeria believes that its settlement can be achieved only by allowing the people of the Western Sahara to exercise their inalienable and non-assignable right to self-determination.
My country reiterates its firm support for the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy for Western Sahara and expresses the hope that their actions, together with the input of the African Union, will contribute to the resumption of negotiations without preconditions and in good faith between the two parties to the conflict, namely, the Kingdom of Morocco and the POLISARIO Front, with a view to reaching a mutually acceptable political solution that ensures the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.
In the same vein, Algeria is  convinced that only  a solution based on international legitimacy and the recognition of the inalienable national rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to establish  an independent State with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, can put a definitive end to the conflict that has existed in the Middle East for seven decades.
Terrorism, of which Algeria was the first target at the end of the last century, has now become one of the most destructive scourges on the planet. At the cost of heavy sacrifices, my country was able to confront it alone by adopting an approach and by harnessing methods that have proved to be effective. That experience, which we are willing to share, was based on the conviction that addressing terrorism must imperatively tackle its root causes and must be accompanied by a policy that is resolute against violent extremism.
The international community is particularly called upon to ensure that the fight against terrorism is accompanied by measures to fight extremism and the promotion of policies that advocate coexistence. In that context, I am pleased to recall that the United Nations resolution declaring 16 May as the International Day of Living Together in Peace (resolution 72/130), which was initiated by Algeria, is part of the efforts to promote the principle of an inclusive dialogue leading the quest for solutions to the challenges to stability at both the national and the international levels.
We are proud that the values and principles of living together in peace were the basis of the policy of civil harmony and national reconciliation, which was implemented with determination by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika of the Republic of Algeria in order to end the national tragedy and reconcile Algerians with each other.
Those unifying ideals are considered above all to be the common factor among the strategies, policies

and programmes that were implemented in the various economic, social, educational, cultural and religious fields. Those  same  principles  consistently   guide my country’s foreign policy in our relations with neighbouring countries and other countries of the world.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development are remarkable achievements that require the substantial mobilization of both the means and the capabilities for their implementation. We express the hope that the outcome of the High-level Meeting on Financing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was convened by the Secretary-General on 24 September, will provide a solid foundation for concerted action between the United Nations system and Member States for development in line with the aspirations of developing countries, as advocated by the Group of 77.
Algeria, which participated actively in the development of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, is about to finalize its national progress report for 2016-2018 on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, for voluntary submission to the Economic and Social Council in July 2019. That is part of the new development agenda adopted by Algeria in 2016.  It  is a  policy that aims  to place Algeria among emerging countries by 2035, enabling it to diversify and transform its economy through the revival and consolidation of its economic growth. That will benefit all its citizens, as well as countries of the region as a whole.
Before concluding, I cannot but commend the efforts made by our national authorities regarding the recent constitutional review, which seeks to benefit all segments of Algerian society, in particular the rights of women and supporting them to be independent, as well as support for young people in order to ensure their effective integration into the country’s economic and social development process. Those efforts have earned the recognition of the international community for their focus on promoting both human rights and stability and security. We are honoured by such acknowledgements and feel reassured in our global approach.
The rejection of policies based on force, with the dangers that they entail, requires that we constantly seek, through dialogue and consensus, to strengthen multilateral action. In our view, that is the best way
to respond to the global security and development challenges facing the nations and countries of the world. Through its focus on demonstrating the efficiency and effectiveness for which everyone yearns, the United Nations plays a central role in the endeavour to restore the respect owed to it.
The success of the United Nations is  a  success  for all. We must work  to make it  a  forum not  only for discussing our differences but also for resolving them. Our Organization should be the place where our partnerships are forged.
We particularly commend the General Assembly’s unanimous acceptance of the concept of living together in peace. Algeria believes that failure to live in peace is not inevitable. Conflicts, human tragedies, terrorism and environmental disasters do not affect only certain people and not others. Destiny is a common thing, as President Bouteflika said.
We  are  called  on  to  make  the  United  Nations a unique means to serve peaceful and sustainable societies. Given our conviction and approach, Algeria will in all cases be a loyal and committed partner for achieving peace and development.


Every September, global attention is focused on the United Nations and on this stately Assembly Hall. People watch closely what is happening here, hoping that the United Nations will deliver peace, development, harmony  and prosperity to the world. People look to the United Nations to help them realize their dreams for a better life, to a United Nations that is committed to making itself relevant to all people, thereby making our world a better place for everyone to live in.
The contemporary international order, which began with the founding of the United Nations, is based on the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and is enhanced by the vision and practice of multilateralism. It has brought about general peace and rapid development over the past 70 years or more. A

people-centred philosophy has gained wide acceptance, and a broad consensus has formed on the need for interdependence and win-win cooperation.
Yet it is also true that the international  order today faces problems and needs steady reform and improvement. The world is changing. As we celebrate humankind’s proud achievements and progress, we must never lose sight of the challenges and difficulties we face in an ever-changing world. We must remain vigilant. What we see today is that international rules and multilateral mechanisms are under attack, and the international landscape is filled with uncertainties and destabilizing factors. Should we stay committed to multilateralism or let unilateralism have its way? Should we seek to uphold the architecture of the world order or allow it to be eroded and collapse? Those are critical questions bearing on the future of all countries and the destiny of humankind, questions that all countries must carefully reflect on and seek answers to.
China’s answer is clear cut.  All  along,  China  has upheld the international order and pursued multilateralism. Though once kept out of the United Nations for 22 years, China has never wavered in its commitment to multilateralism and to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. China stayed true to  its  commitment  throughout  the negotiation process on its return to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and then its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) — negotiations that lasted 15 long years and were concluded at a certain price. China fulfilled its promise and integrated itself into the world economic system. After the international financial crisis broke out, China chose not to stand idly by; instead it worked together with other countries to get through those challenging times. For many years, China has contributed more than 30 per cent of global economic growth. It has played its part in helping with the global recovery. In the face of new developments and severe challenges, China will keep to its commitment and remain a champion of multilateralism.
Standing at this rostrum in 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping, in his statement reflecting the key understanding of humankind’s common interest and the future of  our planet, called for  the building  of a community with a shared future for humankind (seeA/70/PV.13). That initiative is in keeping with the trend of history, and it echoes the call of the times. It adds to our conviction and strength as we pursue our common endeavour to protect this global village. It
points us in the direction where we should work together to open up an even better future for humankind.
To uphold multilateralism in this new era, we believe that the following principles must be adhered to. First, we must pursue win-win cooperation. Our world is undergoing profound changes, never before seen in this century. Also never seen before are the problems and challenges we are facing. No country can meet them alone or stay immune to their impact. We must replace confrontation with cooperation and coercion with consultation. We must remain united as a big family. Instead of forming closed circles, we must promote common development through consultation instead of taking a “winner-takes-all” approach. That is a sure way to usher in a bright future.
Secondly, we must act in accordance with rules and order. State-to-State relations must be based on credibility, not the wilful revocation of commitments. International cooperation should be guided by rules, not impulse. Practising multilateralism is, first and foremost, about upholding the Charter of the United Nations, observing international law and basic norms governing international relations, and honouring international agreements reached through negotiations.
Thirdly, we must uphold the principles of fairness and justice. In international affairs, fairness and justice mean equality among all countries, big or small. They signify the responsibility  of  big  countries  to  help the small, and rich ones to assist the poor. Fairness  and justice also mean respect for other countries’ sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, as well as their choice of  development paths and right to a better life and increased development opportunities.
Fourthly, we must act to deliver real results. Multilateralism is not based on empty rhetoric. It must be pursued to solve problems. Efforts must be targeted, results-oriented and measured by visible progress. Whether a multilateral mechanism works depends on the will and engagement of countries. It is imperative that we work together to uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core, as well as the multilateral trading system centred on the World Trade Organization. Multilateralism requires a strong United Nations. China supports Secretary-General Guterres in advancing reform of the United Nations system in the three critical areas of peace and security, economic development and internal management. That reform should be led by Member States, and it should prioritize

the concerns of developing countries, make the United Nations more effective and enhance oversight and accountability. Stable and predictable funding is critical to the proper functioning of the United Nations. China will continue to fulfil its financial obligations and calls on other Member States to pay their membership contributions and peacekeeping assessments on time and in full.
The momentum of humankind’s drive forward towards development and progress is unstoppable. Peace, reconciliation and harmony represent the predominant trend, while war, conflict and terror are opposed by all. Equality, mutual trust and win-win cooperation are key words of our times, whereas power politics and the law of the jungle find no support. As a major responsible country, China is committed to the path of peaceful development, and it will work together with other countries and contribute its share to global peace and security.
Over the past year, the situation on the Korean peninsula has seen a major turnaround thanks to the efforts of all the parties concerned. China,  for  its part, has contributed to that progress. China supports the comprehensive improvement of relations between the north and the south of the peninsula, as well as efforts to facilitate dialogue between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the United States. China encourages the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to continue moving towards denuclearization. We believe that it is also incumbent on the United States to respond in a timely and positive manner so  as to truly meet  the  Democratic  People’s  Republic of Korea halfway. China will continue to honour its international responsibilities and obligations and will strictly implement the Security Council resolutions related to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. China calls on the Security Council to take timely action in the light of developments and changes in the situation so as to create more favourable  conditions for a peaceful settlement of the issue on the peninsula through political and diplomatic means. To effectively settle the issue we need complete denuclearization and the establishment of a peace mechanism. Only when those components move in tandem can the issue be truly resolved and peace achieved.
Regarding the Iranian nuclear issue, now is a crucial time for the continued implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The JCPOA is a consensus-based multilateral agreement endorsed
by the Security Council. It serves the common interests of all the parties concerned and the international community at large. If it is not implemented, the international nuclear non-proliferation regime  will be undermined, the authority and role of the Security Council challenged, and peace and stability jeopardized both in that region and throughout the world,. That is  a scenario from which no one stands to gain. China urges the parties concerned to continue to observe and implement the JCPOA. On that basis, the possibility could be explored for a platform for dialogue that is inclusive and transparent so as to enable each party’s concerns to be adequately addressed through  talks and consultations.
The question of Palestine must not be marginalized. For more than seven decades, peace and justice have remained elusive in that part of the world. What the international community needs most is not a proposal or an initiative but resolve and action. In order to implement a two-State solution, a new round of peace-promoting efforts must be made with a view to exploring a new mediation mechanism. To that end, China will play its part, and Chinese humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people will continue.
The issue involving Myanmar’s Rakhine state cannot be resolved overnight, and steady progress must be made through a three-phase process involving a cessation of violence, the return of the displaced persons and economic development. Myanmar and Bangladesh are inseparable neighbours and could well be inseparable partners. Yesterday, at my meeting with colleagues from Myanmar and Bangladesh and in the presence of Secretary-General Guterres, an agreement was reached between Myanmar and Bangladesh on accelerating the return of the first wave of displaced persons. We believe that Myanmar and  Bangladesh are capable of resolving the issue properly through friendly negotiations.
China supports the leading role of the United Nations in coordinating responses to non-traditional security challenges. On the new frontiers of global governance, such as cyberspace and outer space, State sovereignty must be upheld, rules observed and responsibilities honoured. Terrorism, a threat to all societies, can never be justified. Security Council resolutions must be vigorously implemented to counter cyberterrorism, terrorist financing and the spread of radical narratives so as to eliminate the breeding grounds of terrorism.

Development is essential for our world today. We need to address both insufficient development and, more importantly, imbalance in development. There  is no one-size-fits-all model. Every country is entitled to explore a particular development path aimed at delivering happiness and security to its people and bringing about a future of confidence and hope for its children. Countries face various questions with regard to development. Such questions could be turned into drivers for reform, and solutions to problems could bring about development. Economic globalization should not be a process whereby some profit and others lose; even less should it result in widening the gap between North and South. It is important that we  adapt to the trend  of economic globalization and ensure that the process is open, inclusive, balanced and mutually beneficial so that it can deliver benefits to  all.  International trade is complementary and mutually beneficial in nature.  It should not be a zero-sum game in which one side gains at the expense of the others, and no one should be allowed to place their own interest above the interest of others. Protectionism will only be self-defeating, and unilateral moves will hurt everyone.
With regard to friction in trade, China stands for  a proper settlement of disagreements based on rules and consensus through dialogue and consultation on an equal footing. China will not be blackmailed or yield to pressure. We have not only taken steps to defend our own legitimate rights and interests but also to uphold the free trade system, international rules and the international order for the benefit of global recovery and the common interests of all countries.
The implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development should be at the top of the agenda of the current session of the General Assembly. We need to incorporate its implementation into Member States’ development strategies and pursue innovation-driven, coordinated, green and open development that benefits all. We need to forge closer partnerships for development and pursue international development cooperation, with the United Nations at its centre and North-South cooperation as the main channel, supplemented by South-South cooperation. To meet the challenges of climate change, it is crucial to achieve sustainable development. China hopes to see the conclusion of the negotiations on the implementation guidelines of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, scheduled for the end of this year, with a view to boosting joint efforts for global ecological conservation.
In pursuing our common cause of humankind’s development and progress, China has worked in partnership with other countries of the international community. This year marks the fortieth anniversary of China’s reform and opening up. Over those 40 years, we have worked hard and forged ahead successfully along a path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. That path has brought fundamental changes to China. In the past 40 years, more than 700 million individuals in the Chinese population have been lifted out of absolute poverty, which accounts for more than 70 per cent of the global totals for the same period. A basic medical insurance system has been set up to cover China’s 1.35 billion people, and a social pension network accessible to more than 900 million people has been fully implemented. China has built approximately 25,000 kilometres of high-speed railway. That accounts for two thirds of the global total and helps elevate global infrastructure construction.  According  to polls conducted by authoritative international polling agencies, China is at the top of global rankings in terms of public satisfaction with its development and public confidence in its future. The path  of  development that China is pursuing has provided the world with opportunities for shared development. Over the past 40 years, China’s foreign trade has averaged an annual growth rate of 14.5 per cent. That has sustained the impetus for global growth and provided the world with a huge Chinese market. We have every  confidence that we will maintain that momentum and continue to realize high-quality development. China will accelerate efforts to build an advanced economic system, which will create greater trade opportunities and an even better investment environment for other countries.
China will not reverse course or  shut  its  doors but will rather open its doors even wider to the world. China will not erect market barriers but will expand access to the Chinese market. Of all of the developing countries in the world, China has been the fastest in terms of opening up at a level unparalleled by others. When it comes to overall tariff reduction, China has accomplished more than it committed to when it joined the WTO. The breadth of China’s openness in services is close to the average level of  developed countries.  In November, China will host the first International Import Expo in Shanghai, which will be yet another major step in opening China’s market. Countries are welcome to participate actively in it.

The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by President Xi Jinping, is a public good that China is providing for the world. It has grown into the largest platform for international cooperation. It aims to deliver benefits for all through consultations and cooperation. The Initiative is open, transparent and inclusive. It is  based on international rules and laws, and it aims to achieve green, environment-friendly and sustainable development. It is about pursuing common prosperity through greater complementarity among participating countries. By September, more than 130 countries and international organizations will have signed agreements on Belt and Road cooperation with China. Next year, China will host the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, and we welcome all parties to attend that event.
China is the largest developing country in the world. Strengthening cooperation and solidarity with other developing countries has been and will continue to be a firm strategic priority in China’s diplomacy. That choice has been determined by what defines China as a country and by the system and values that China upholds. No matter how  much  China has increased  in strength, and regardless of how the international landscape might change, that strategic priority of China will not change.
The United Nations is the primary platform for advocating for and practising multilateralism. We hope that the current session of the General Assembly will be remembered for its part in upholding multilateralism, world peace and development.  We  hope  that  all  of us in the international community will support the United Nations in its efforts to play a central role in international affairs, and we call on people of all countries to work together to build a community with a shared future for humankind.


I convey very special congratulations to Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés on her election to preside over the General Assembly. I congratulate her on her personality and career, on the priorities she has defined, on the progress she represents in gender equality at  the United Nations and on the informal interactive dialogue, which is a sign of the increased transparency of the General Assembly.
Portugal welcomes and reaffirms its full support for the priorities the Secretary-General has set  and the actions he has pursued during his lucid, dynamic and exceptional mandate. Multilateralism, based on international law and the Charter of the United Nations, the reform of the Organization, conflict prevention, peacekeeping and the maintenance of peace, concern for migration and refugees, combating terrorism and international crime, the oceans and maritime security, climate change, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, gender equality and support for our
young people are all aimed at the permanent upholding of human rights.
The key is always strengthened multilateralism. That is why we do not understand — and in fact deplore — the use of unilateralism as a way to disinvest in international organizations. It represents political short-sightedness that runs the risk of making us repeat the mistakes that were made almost a century ago. United Nations reform requires the commitment of all Member States. Maintaining the status quo is a way of gutting multilateralism and, in the absence of prevention, multiplying risks and conflicts, resulting in underdevelopment and the violation of human rights. And if we fail to reform the Security Council through a broad-based consensus we ignore the geopolitics of the twenty-first century, which at the very least requires the inclusion of representatives of the continent of Africa, Brazil and India.
Portugal is a participant in conflict-prevention, peacebuilding, peacekeeping and institutional capacity- building operations in nine United Nations missions, six of which are in Africa. I  would  particularly like to highlight our presence in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic and in the United Nations Multidimensional  Integrated  Stabilization  Mission in Mali.
With respect  to  migration  and  refugees,  we need to understand the causes of the growth in mass movements of people, and we need dialogue among societies of origin, transit and destination. Portugal unreservedly supports the global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration, the global compact on refugees and the promotion of the right to education  in emergency situations. We have welcomed and will continue to welcome migrants, refugees and other displaced persons. Under our former President Jorge Sampaio, my country launched the Global Platform  for Syrian Students and calls for the broadest possible participation in the Rapid Response Mechanism for Higher Education in Emergencies.
The fight against terrorism has led to the creation of the Office of Counter-Terrorism, the first United Nations High-level Conference of Heads of Counter- Terrorism Agencies of Member States and a sixth United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy Review (resolution 72/284). The guarantee of justice for victims of serious international crimes is now one of the

tasks of the International Criminal Court, which began to consider the crime of aggression in 2017, following a decision in which Portugal played an active role. With the support of more Member States, the Rome Statute, which created the Court, is expected to move towards universal adoption.
With regard to multilateralism and international law in the area of oceans and maritime security, Portugal is actively involved in preparations for the second United Nations Ocean Conference, in 2020, and stands ready to assume all responsibilities related to that. Maritime security is needed in places such as the coast of Somalia or the Gulf of Guinea, where Portugal is part of the European Union Naval Force Operation Atalanta within the framework of the European Union, and also in the Yaoundé process, together with the African Union and the countries of the region. And  we are going further, creating a centre in the Azores  as a platform for various international organizations working to protect the oceans. Global governance of the oceans, supported by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, is a just cause.  For us, those are structural issues that we do not change to suit short-term trends and actors. We regard a healthy environment as a fundamental right; we support carbon neutrality by 2050 and, with Lebanon, we are jointly chairing the ad hoc open-ended working group with a view to drafting a global pact for the environment.
There are basically two different views of the world. One is short-term. It is unilateral or minilateral, protectionist and focused on populist domestic discourse. It minimizes the importance of multilateralism in anything to do with sustainable development, is prone to climate change denial, opposes global compacts on migration and refugees and is interested in conflict prevention and peacekeeping on the rare occasions when and where they suit it, and they are more likely to suit it when the emphasis is on economic rather than political power. The opposing view, which we share,  is multilateral, open, favourable to the quest for global governance, committed to sustainable development and respectful of international law, the Charter of the United Nations and human rights as values and principles, not as means or conveniences. We are confident that, in the medium to long term, that view will prevail, as it has in the European Union, which has given Europe  its longest period of peace in living memory and high levels of welfare and social protection.
As we celebrate the seventieth  anniversary  of  the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Law Commission, it is an appropriate time to call for consensus on the adoption of the biennial resolution on the moratorium on the death penalty, which is to be submitted to the General Assembly.
Our view of the global situation and the role of  the United Nations, which, as I said, is in complete agreement with the  view  of  the  Secretary-General, is based on our positions on those so-called regional questions that are global in scope. Let me now comment on some that are of particular relevance to Portugal.
We salute the strengthening of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP) — currently chaired by Cabo Verde, to be followed by Angola—whose contributions to stability and development I want to highlight. The CPLP enjoys an excellent cooperative relationship with the United Nations and pursues the goal of seeing the Portuguese language, one of the most widely spoken in the world, adopted as an official language of the United Nations.
We also commend the steps that have been taken in Guinea-Bissau in preparation for elections in November. We would like to highlight the increasing importance of the African Union and its key uniting role for peace and sustainable development, its growing partnership with the United Nations and the historic step of the signing of the Joint Declaration of Peace and Friendship between Ethiopia and Eritrea. It is our hope that the elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo will be held in a safe, free and fair manner and that the results be respected by all.
The important developments on the Korean peninsula are opening up the prospects for its complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization, demonstrating the commitment and courage of the parties involved, the contributions of regional partners of the United Nations and, above all, the role of diplomacy in bringing about world peace and security.
We note the signing of the maritime-boundary treaty between Australia and Timor-Leste under the auspices of the Secretary-General, confirming the effectiveness of the peaceful settlement of disputes through conciliation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Unfortunately, some parts of the Middle East and the Maghreb continue to show signs of long-term

political, social and economic instability. In Libya, the international community must come together to assist with the humanitarian and security situation and in establishing a robust State. Yemen remains the scene of one of the worst humanitarian crises today, where the most vulnerable — women and children — are especially badly affected. Only through a negotiated political solution mediated by the United Nations and with respect for international humanitarian law can we reverse that increasingly tragic situation.
Equally tragic is the humanitarian  crisis  in Syria, with one of the largest  refugee  flows  ever seen in the region or beyond. In that case, too, only a substantive, inclusive political solution mediated by the United Nations can ensure effective and broad-based international support for reconstruction. The fact is that stability and peace in the Middle East will be possible only through the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Common sense demands the  resumption of  a credible negotiation process that addresses all the final-status issues, including the question of Jerusalem, and can lead to a viable two-State solution based on the coexistence of Israel and Palestine in peace and security.
As the Secretary-General suggested yesterday, true patriotism and cosmopolitanism are complementary. Portugal believes that multilateral action, political dialogue and diplomatic wisdom are the only possible path to harmonious coexistence among nations and peoples, and that very short-term perspectives, however appealing they may seem, are just a flash in the pan that will not last and will not solve the world’s true problems.
As Nelson Mandela said, “A fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long way in making the world the better place we so passionately dreamt of.”
That is the Organization’s noble mission;  it  is  also the reason for Portugal’s deep commitment to the United Nations. The United Nations represents neither a luxury nor a short-sighted trend, but rather a long- lasting universal need.


On behalf of the United Kingdom, let me begin by paying tribute to an outstanding leader of the United Nations, who, sadly, passed away this summer. Kofi Annan was one of the great Secretaries-General, a tireless campaigner for peace and progress and a champion of human rights and human dignity, whose influence will continue to be felt around the world for years to come. Over the course of his lifetime he witnessed the extraordinary progress that we as a community of nations have made since the Organization was founded: progress in which we have more than halved the number of people living in extreme poverty in this century alone; progress in which the number of people killed in conflicts has fallen by three quarters in just over three decades; and progress in which millions of our citizens lead healthier and longer lives and where, thanks to advances in human knowledge, medicine, science and technology, we are presented with huge opportunities in the years ahead. Yet today many are concerned about whether or not that progress will continue and fearful about what the future holds.
For the end of the Cold War did not, as many once believed, lead to the inevitable supremacy of open economies and liberal democracies cooperating on the global stage for the common good. Today, instead, we face a loss of confidence in those very systems that have delivered so much. The belief in free markets has been challenged by the financial crisis of 2008, the concerns of those feeling left behind by globalization, the anxieties about the pace and scale of technological change and what that will mean for jobs and the unprecedented mass movements of people across borders, with all the pressures that can bring. And after the military interventionism at the beginning of the century, people question the rationale, and indeed legitimacy, of the use of force and involving ourselves in crises and conflicts that are not ours, while at the same time being repelled by the slaughter in Syria and our failure to end it.
Such doubts are entirely understandable; so too is the demand for leadership. Those of us who believe in inclusive societies and open economies have a duty to respond, learn the lessons of the past, meet people’s concerns with practical actions, not beguiling illusions, and renew our confidence in the ideas and values that have done so much to benefit so many for so long. For be in no doubt, if we lack the confidence to step up, others will.
In the last century, whether in the rise of fascism or the spread of communism, we have seen those on the extreme right and extreme left exploit people’s fears, stoke intolerance and racism, close down economies and societies and destroy the peace of nations. And today, once more, we see worrying trends in the rise of such movements in Europe and beyond. We have seen what happens when countries slide into authoritarianism, slowly crushing the basic freedoms and rights of their citizens. We have seen what happens when corrupt oligarchies rob their nations of the wealth, resources and human capital that are so vital to unlocking a brighter future for their citizens.
We have seen what happens when the natural patriotism that is a cornerstone of a healthy society is warped into aggressive nationalism, exploiting fear and

uncertainty to promote identity politics at home and belligerent confrontation abroad, while breaking rules and undermining institutions. We see what happens when States like Russia flagrantly breach international norms — from the seizing of sovereign territory to the reckless use of chemical weapons on the streets of Britain by agents of the Russian GRU. We have to show there is a better way to meet the concerns of our people. That way lies in global cooperation between strong and accountable States based on open economies and inclusive societies. It is a way that ensures that strong nation States provide the bonds that bring citizens together and that power remains accountable to those it is there to serve; that celebrates free markets and has the confidence to reform them when they need to work better; and that demonstrates that delivering for one’s citizens at home does not have to be at the expense of global cooperation and the values, rules and ideals that underpin that.
Indeed, cooperation and competition are not mutually exclusive. Only global cooperation based on a set of agreed rules can ensure competition is fair and does not succumb to protectionism, with its certain path to lost jobs and international confrontation. It is only global cooperation that can harness legitimate self- interest towards common goals, producing agreements on global challenges, such as climate change and proliferation, and increasing inclusive economic growth. We see that cooperation here today at the United Nations, as we also saw it at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting earlier this year. And here today, as Chair-in-Office of the Commonwealth, I deliver a clear statement on behalf of the Heads of Government of its 53 equal and independent member States. We reaffirm our shared commitment to working together within a rules-based international system to address shared global challenges and foster a fairer, more secure, more sustainable and more prosperous future. That commitment takes account of the special requirements of the least developed countries and of small and otherwise vulnerable economies and benefits all our citizens and the wider world.
But it is not enough for us merely to make the case for cooperation. We need action, at home and in the community of nations, to show how our ideas and values can deliver practical benefits for all our people in all parts of the world. We must recognize the legitimacy of people’s concerns and act to build a global economy that works for everyone. We must invest in the patient
work of building open societies in which everyone has a stake in the future. And we must act to uphold the international rules-based system and stand up for our values by protecting those who may suffer when it is violated. Let me take each in turn.
First, we must respond to those who feel that the global economy is not working for them; the pace of globalization that has left too many people behind; the fear that our children and grandchildren may lack the education and skills to secure the jobs of tomorrow; and the risk that technological change could become   a source of inequality and division rather than the greatest opportunity in history. In the United Kingdom we are driving investment in industries of the  future to create new jobs, from low-carbon technologies to artificial intelligence. We are investing in education and skills so that workers are ready to make the most of the opportunities that lie ahead. And we are making sure people play by the rules so that business and innovation is celebrated for creating jobs, not demonized because of grievances over tax not paid or rights not respected.
While we strive to make our own economies work for all our people, we should do the same at a global level. In an increasingly global economy, it is not enough to ensure people play by the rules at home. We need global cooperation to set and enforce fair rules on trade, tax and the sharing of data. And those rules need to keep pace with the changing nature of trade and technology. We need to give the World Trade Organization a broad, ambitious and urgent mandate to reform. It must address the areas where it is not functioning effectively, deal with issues that are not currently covered and maintain trust in a system that is critical to preventing a return to the failed protectionism of the past.
Fair and respected rules are essential for business to flourish and drive growth. But recent history shows that that cannot be sustained without deeper partnerships among Governments, business, international financial institutions and civil society to ensure that growth delivers for everyone. That is why I recently visited Africa, along with British businesses, to promote trade and investment and encourage a new partnership based on shared prosperity and shared security. It is why at this General Assembly session I co-hosted an event with Prime Minister Trudeau, President Kagame and President Akufo-Addo, calling for more support for investment and job creation for young people on the continent. It is why the United Kingdom will maintain its commitment to spending 0.7 per cent of gross

national income on official development assistance and put our development budget at the heart of our international agenda. We will do more to create jobs, improve skills and increase investment in emerging economies — in both our interests and theirs, for the best way of resisting protectionism is to ensure that this century is defined by open markets that really deliver for all our people.
Secondly, we must build countries, not only economies, that work for everyone: inclusive societies where every citizen has a stake in the future. Those are the firm foundations on which strong and accountable nations are built. History has consistently taught us that giving people a stake in society is the best way to ensure stability, security and economic growth. There is no one right way to do this. Every country must choose its own path, but the basic tenets are common across the world. They include a Government that is transparent and accountable, an independent judiciary to enforce the rule of law, free and fair elections and a free and open media. They also include freedom of expression, a right to redress, property rights that are reliably enforced, equality, freedom of thought, opinion, religion and conscience — all found in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, signed 70 years ago.
Those of us who believe in those tenets must set  an example in defending and strengthening them at home and abroad. That is why we must call out hate speech, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia  and  all  forms of prejudice and discrimination against minorities wherever we find  it.  Like  many  leaders,  I  suspect, I do not always enjoy reading what the media in my country writes about me. But I will defend their right to say it, for the independence of our media is one of my country’s greatest achievements and it is the bedrock of our democracy.
So, too, will I defend objectivity and impartiality in the face of those who treat truth as just another opinion to be manipulated. This challenge has only become more complex with the rise in social media and online information. That is why we agreed at the Group of Seven (G-7) Summit in June to step up  our efforts to respond to disinformation and why, together with our partners and with technology companies, we are leading efforts to reclaim the Internet from terrorists and others who would do us harm.
Just as we must stand up for the values that we adhere to, so we must support countries and leaders who
choose to take the often difficult steps towards a more inclusive society. The United Kingdom will use all the levers at its disposal to do so. Through our aid budget and commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, we will not only protect the most vulnerable, but also bolster States under threat and help others sustain their progress. Through global campaigns, we will help countries to end scourges such as modern slavery and sexual violence in conflict, and we will mobilize wider support through our alliances and membership of multilateral organizations — not only the United Nations, but also international financial institutions, the G-7, the Group of 20 and NATO.
Just as there is no single recipe for an inclusive society, so there is no single model for balancing the democratic demands of our public with the imperative to cooperate internationally. The vote by the British people to leave the European Union (EU) was not a rejection of multilateralism or international cooperation; it was a clear demand for decisions and accountability to lie closer to home. I believe the role of leadership   in these circumstances is clear: it is delivering on the democratic wishes of our people and international cooperation, working with allies and partners in pursuit of our shared values.
Thirdly, we must have the will and confidence to act when the fundamental rules that we live by are broken. This is not about repeating the mistakes of the past by trying to impose democracy on other countries through regime change, but we should not allow those mistakes to prevent us from protecting people in the face of the worst violations of human rights and human dignity. We should not allow those mistakes to paralyse the international community when its long-established norms are violated. We should not let our inability to prevent some of the worst conflicts today stop us from making every effort to ensure they do not happen again in future. If we stand back, we allow the world to become divided into spheres of influence in which the powerful dominate the weak and in which legitimate grievances go unaddressed. This is not just a moral imperative — it is also a matter of self-interest, for when barbarous acts and aggression go unchecked, dictators and terrorists are emboldened.
We must therefore have the confidence to act. When the Syrian regime used chemical weapons on its people again in April, it was Britain — together with France and America — that took military action to degrade the Syrian regime’s chemical-weapons capability and

deter their use. Earlier this year, when Russia used a toxic nerve agent in a sickening attack on the streets  of Salisbury, the United Kingdom, with our NATO, EU and other allies, took action, expelling over 150 Russian intelligence officers in the largest collective expulsion ever.
In Burma, following the damning report of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar, we should sow the same  confidence  to hold accountable those responsible for the appalling atrocities repeatedly inflicted by the Burmese military on the Rohingya, Shan and Kachin peoples since 2011. Similarly, we should gather evidence of Da’esh’s crimes worldwide, show ensuring justice for their victims and deterring those who might conduct such crimes in the future. But accountability alone is not enough. We must do more collectively to prevent such atrocities in the first place and address the causes of instability that can give rise to them.
The United Nations has a critical  role  to  play, and it has a wide range of levers to do so, from sanctions — which show the leaders of Iran and North Korea that they cannot act without consequence — to peacekeeping missions, such as that in South Sudan, which is helping to prevent suffering and the collapse of law and order. To be able to effectively use those levers, the Security Council must find the political  will  to act in our collective interest. United Nations agencies must deliver the reforms that the Secretary-General has started to become more agile, more transparent and better coordinated on the ground. To support those reforms, we must also ensure proper funding is targeted specifically at those parts of the United Nations that deliver results.
Seventy years ago, the General Assembly agreed the Universal Declaration of Human  Rights.  Today we must renew the ideals and values on which that Declaration was founded. In doing so, we must learn the lessons of the past and show through our actions how cooperation between strong and accountable States with open economies and inclusive societies can best deliver security and prosperity for all our people. As Kofi Annan said at the start of his second term as Secretary-General,
“I have sought to turn an unflinching eye to the failures of our recent past, in order to assess more clearly what it will take for us to succeed in the future.” (A/55/PV.105, p.3)
In that spirit, let us show unflinching resolve to renew the promise of freedom, opportunity and fairness, a promise that has delivered for more people, in more places, than at any other period in our history. Let us ensure that promise can be fulfilled for our children and grandchildren and for every generation to come.