PM Lawrence Wong at the Official Lunch in Honour of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres (Sep 2024)

Your Excellency António Guterres 
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

It gives me great pleasure to welcome Secretary-General Guterres and his delegation to Singapore. 

When Singapore joined the United Nations in 1965, we pledged to provide unflinching support to the principles and the ideals of the UN Charter, which assure the well-being, security and integrity of countries. This commitment remains just as vital today as it was then. 

The world is now more interconnected than ever. We face forces that do not respect borders, testing our collective ability to respond. Climate change is reshaping our environment. Infectious diseases threaten our shared humanity. And, technology presents new risks even as it offers new possibilities. 

No single country can solve these global challenges alone. They require sustained international cooperation, especially at the United Nations.  

Yet, deepening conflicts and geopolitical tensions are eroding trust and making it harder for countries to come together to forge multinational solutions. 

Secretary-General, your leadership in these troubled times has been exemplary.  

First, you have remained steadfast in your commitment to uphold the UN Charter and international law. As a small state, Singapore deeply appreciates this. The rules-based multilateral system is crucial for preserving our sovereignty.    

Second, you have been a strong advocate for global equity and justice. You have reminded the world not to neglect problems like poverty and hunger, even while you commenced work on frontier issues like Artificial Intelligence. Singapore shares your commitment to prevent inequality and the digital divide from widening further, and to make sustainable development a reality for all nations. 

Third, you have been tireless in your efforts to strengthen multilateralism. 

You initiated the Summit of the Future, which will take place later this month.  
The Summit is a pivotal opportunity to refresh the multilateral architecture and to ensure the UN remains fit for purpose, capable of addressing the challenges of today and tomorrow. 
Singapore will do our part to support the Summit, and we look forward to its concrete and ambitious outcomes.  

Secretary-General, the UN is a unique institution of special importance to Singapore. It remains the only global body with universal participation and legitimacy. The UN framework respects the independence of its Member States and gives each of them a voice in international affairs; at the same time, it recognises the interdependence of nations and provides a platform for countries to address common challenges together.  

Singapore is committed to strengthening the UN. We will continue to do whatever we can to support your leadership and the UN’s mission. We will offer ideas, build bridges, and broker solutions.  

One example is through the Forum of Small States, which we founded in 1992. The Forum has consistently advocated for strengthening the UN. We appreciate your advocacy for even the smallest and most vulnerable states, and you can likewise count on our support. 

Mr Secretary-General, ladies and gentlemen, please join me in a toast to:
The good health of Secretary-General António Guterres; and
The success of the United Nations. 
Cheers.

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