11 January 2011: In a statement to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences delivered in Beijing, China, on 11 January 2011, UN General Assembly President Joseph Deiss addressed the transition towards a green economy and the role of the UN in global governance.

Noting that China is on track to meet most of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), he underlined that there are significant lessons to be drawn from China’s economic performance and from its experience in making the transition towards a green economy.

Deiss then focused on the central role of the UN in global governance, outlining three reasons for addressing this topic: the challenges of poverty reduction and sustainable development have to be addressed through global decision-making and global action; a shift in political and economic power is taking place; and the global governance landscape is getting more complex. He stressed the role the UN and the UNGA can play to capture the complexity of this new landscape and “to shape a global governance structure that is efficient, open and representative.” He expressed satisfaction at the fact that, during the UNGA general debate at the end of September on “reaffirming the central role of the UN in global governance,” member States concurred that the UN is the central forum for global governance, noting however that “urgent reforms need to be undertaken to make the organization fit for the job.” He then listed various aspects to consider in carrying out these reforms, indicating its commitment to achieve progress on these issues during the UNGA’s 65th session.

Citing the example of the recent biodiversity and climate change conferences, in Nagoya, Japan, and Cancun, Mexico, as positive achievements for the UN multilateral diplomacy, he underscored the importance of the process used to conduct consultations and negotiations at each stage in the negotiation. In closing, he also emphasized the importance of openness and outreach to nongovernmental actors, and called for China’s support in building a strong UN with a strong General Assembly. [Deiss’ Statement]