Make development sustainable: S'pore

SINGAPORE - The United Nations (UN) has a critical role in setting a development agenda for the world, said Minister for Foreign Affairs and Law K. Shanmugam in an address to the General Assembly.

Speaking on this year's theme, "The Post-2015 Development Agenda: Setting the Stage", he suggested three priority areas.

"The new global development roadmap should have poverty eradication and sustainable development at its centre and should converge around a single clear set of practical and quantifiable goals," he said.

"Second, we should emphasise urban management and the intertwined issues of water and sanitation," he said, pointing out that in July Singapore had tabled a resolution which was adopted by the General Assembly, to designate Nov 19 as World Toilet Day.

"Third, it is important for the views and concerns of small states to be incorporated in the Post-2015 Development Agenda."

Small states form more than half of the UN's membership and many of them, especially small island developing states are among the more vulnerable members of the UN family, he said.

Singapore would continue to share its developmental experience, "both our successes and our failures" and assist other countries in poverty eradication and furthering the agenda for sustainable development, he said.

Get The New Paper for more stories.