Statement by H.E. Ambassador SHINO Mitsuko, Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the GA Plenary Meeting on Agenda Item 123: “Strengthening of the United Nations system”

 
Thank you, Mr. President.
 
Let me first express our gratitude for convening this joint debate. Japan would like to take this opportunity to briefly share our views on the Summit of the Future and its outcome documents; Pact for the future, including the annexed documents; Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on the Future Generations, as they were all adopted under the same agenda “Strengthening of the United Nations system.”
 
We have come a long way from the Declaration on the Commemoration of the seventy-fifth Anniversary of the United Nations, adopted in 2020, through the Our Common Agenda published by the Secretary-General, and to the Pact adopted two weeks ago on September 22^nd.
 
Adoption of the Pact is surely not the end. The world is still in turmoil just like in 2020, or even worse. Necessary reforms are not yet met.
 
However, Japan firmly believes that the fact we were able to adopt the documents, varying in so many areas, in consensus is a strong message to the people and to ourselves that it is through multilateralism that we make this world a better place.
 
As you, Mr. President, and the Secretary-General have said, the Pact lays “the foundations for a sustainable, just and peaceful global order” and opens “pathways to new possibilities and opportunities.” We fully agree to you Mr. President, “The path we choose must lead to a future where human dignity is respected and human rights are upheld” and that is only possible when we, all the Member States, uphold the rule of law.
 
Mr. President, allow me to elaborate on some of the issues that were brought to light when we finalized our paths heading into the Summit.
 
Nuclear Disarmament
The pathway to a world without nuclear weapons is getting tougher in recent times, but we were able to renew our commitment to advancing that goal in the Pact. It is noteworthy that Member States recommitted to “the total elimination of nuclear weapons.” As the First Committee has started its program of work this month, Japan would like to highlight the importance of “strengthening the disarmament and non-proliferation architecture” and prevention of “any erosion of existing international norms,” and encourage Member States to “seek to accelerate the full and effective implementation of respective nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation obligations and commitments.” We must persistently pursue realistic and practical initiatives.

Security Council Reform
With respect to Security Council reform, the Pact became the first ever concrete text on the agenda  endorsed at leaders’ level, which is a significant step towards our shared goal of making the Council better reflect today’s realities. In particular, Japan welcomes that the Pact:
 
(a) shows that world leaders strongly call for urgent reform of the Security Council,
 
(b) calls for finding an agreement on categories of membership to expand, taking into account the discussions held in the IGN process,
 
(c) looks towards 2030 as a timeline to enlarge the Council to be more representative,
 
(d) encourages to work towards developing a consolidated model in the IGN through structured dialogue, which we hope will lead to text-based negotiations, and
 
(e) highlights the importance of limiting the scope and use of the veto. 
 
However, what is more important is how to implement agreed actions. In this regard, we are more than willing to work together with fellow Member States, looking ahead to the upcoming 80th anniversary of the UN next year.

Peacebuilding and the Strengthening of the PBC
Now, regarding the peacebuilding and strengthening of the PBC. As it had been already recognized during our Security Council Open Debate on promoting conflict prevention in March, we are pleased to have reaffirmed our commitment to preventive diplomacy and the UN's role as a collective effort in the pact. We also decided to develop and implement early warning and crisis management mechanisms to address new and emerging threats to international peace and security. To strengthen the UN system to implement these initiatives, I hereby assure Japan’s continued commitment ahead of the upcoming 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review, including efforts to strengthen the role of the Peacebuilding Commission within and beyond the UN.

International Financial Architecture
There is no Member State which denies the need to reform the international financial architecture (IFA) in order to address the financial gaps faced by developing countries to realize their development goals. The issue is how to chart the narrow path that balances the immediate financial needs of developing countries today and the long-term sustainability of the international financial architecture into the future.
 
We would like to reiterate that the implementation of the Pact should take place in a complementary manner with the Governing Board of the international financial institutions in all the relevant actions, including the mobilization of additional financing.

Mr. President,
 
To conclude, we would like to echo the Secretary-General who described that the Pact is just the end of the beginning and that now we must breathe life into actions we have agreed. Please rest assured, Japan will continue to engage earnestly in putting words into action so that we will have a better optics of the world at the beginning of the eighty-third session, when we review the overall implementation of the Pact.

I thank you.