Your Excellencies,
Distinguished members of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Thank you for this opportunity to share our thoughts at this Millenium Development Goal (MDG) Forum.
This is a very important forum as it reminds us that the United Nations is the foremost and primary multilateral forum for the discussion of challenges facing the world. It is also the most inclusive forum for that purpose.
At the same, this meeting also recognises the importance of forums such as the G20 which bring together a particular group of nations for an intensive on certain issues facing the world.
In our view the two are not competing, but are complementary and should contribute to taking forward the quest for the eradication of poverty as well as peace and development in the world.
For South Africa, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are central to the realisation of our strategic vision of a better quality of life for all – a better South Africa, a better Africa and a better world through an equitable, democratic and just international order.
The High-level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly that was held in New York from 20 to 22 September 2010, at the mid-point between the adoption of the Millennium Development Goals and the target date of 2015, helped to renew the international commitment to support for the achievement of the goals.
At the mid-point, we understood that, despite our best efforts, the prospects did not seem encouraging for our continent, especially for Sub-Saharan Africa.
The Millennium Development Goals underpin our collective vision of a development strategy for a better, more prosperous and secure future.
We are deeply conscious of the fact that, if Africa fails to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, our collective vision and the international development partnership from which it is derived, would have failed.
South Africa’s own national assessment of the state of our progress in the achievement of Millennium Development Goals, as outlined in the country reports we have produced to date, reveals that we have made satisfactory progress with regard to Goals One, Two, Three and Eight.
We are experiencing certain challenges, however, in achieving Goals Four, Five and Six.
The global economic crisis, from which the global economy is slowly recovering, has highlighted the need to work for the acceleration of the achievement of the Goals.
Looking ahead, as 2015 fast approaches, we need to intensify the international partnership for development and focus on accelerating the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
The decision of the G20 to establish a development agenda could not have been a timelier one. The contribution of the G20 is most welcome in this regard.
The role of the G20 in promoting growth and development should not be independent of, but should complement and add value to, existing international and regional initiatives, including the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
As the designated premier forum for the economic coordination amongst its members, the development agenda of the G20 embraces a concerted focus on economic growth.
Social development is the ultimate objective—better lives for all people on this planet.
South Africa is honoured to have been invited to work with South Korea as Co-chair of the Development Working Group of the G20.
The Working Group has identified a set of key interventions that will help to improve the economic growth of developing countries in the long run.
These interventions, in the form of multi-year action plans, will be submitted to this G20 Seoul Summit for consideration.
France has indicated that the development agenda will be one of the core priorities for the French Presidency of the G20 in 2011, and rightfully so.
South Africa is again honoured to have been invited to continue as Co-chair of the Development Working Group, along with France and South Korea.
We have been entrusted with a significant responsibility and will work tirelessly to ensure that the development agenda of the G20 helps to close the development gap between the rich and the poor, both within individual countries and between nations.
Through Millennium Development Goal Eight, on the Global Partnership for Development, the Member States of the United Nations have recognised that measures at country-level to achieve the Millennium Development Goals would be significantly enhanced by a global, collective effort, in working together.
With only five short years left to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, we need a far greater sense of urgency if the targets are to be met.
Working together with other member countries, South Africa’s participation in the G20 will seek to ensure that the work of the forum retains a central focus on sustainable development.
We are very optimistic about this particular G20 Summit given the work that has been done so far.
The development focus should enable the forum to take the undertakings of previous Summits forward.
The G20 should play an active role in addressing critical development issues. This G20 summit should take us forward in narrowing the development gap to achieve strong, sustainable and balanced growth and to ensure a more robust and resilient global economy for all.
South Africa needs to continue putting pressure on developed countries to mobilise resources to support growth and development. Developing countries should be recognised as equal partners in the development of their economies.
In this manner, we can ensure that we move forward in the quest for true growth and development, especially in the developing world.
I am grateful for your kind attention.
I thank you.
