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Foreign Minister Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan attended the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Bali, Indonesia, July 7-8, 2022.
In light of the difficult geopolitical climate, Foreign Ministers stressed the continued importance of multilateralism in maintaining an open and rules-based international order. They noted with concern the rise in inflation and growing food and energy insecurity which must be addressed comprehensively.
Minister Balakrishnan stressed that multilateralism is needed more than ever. Respect for sovereignty and international law as well as dialogue and diplomacy are essential for peace and prosperity. Minister Balakrishnan called on countries to resist protectionism, keep borders open, transform food systems and facilitate cross-border trade in renewable energy. The full text of Minister Balakrishnan’s two speeches is appended.
Minister Balakrishnan also held bilateral meetings with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, Minister of External Affairs of India Dr S Jaishankar, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Catherine Colonna, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico Marcelo Ebrard and Minister of Foreign Affairs , European Union and Cooperation of Spain José Manuel Albares Bueno, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Argentina Santiago Cafiero. Minister Balakrishnan and his counterparts discussed major regional and international developments and agreed to deepen bilateral relations.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
JULY 8, 2022
REMARKS BY DR VIVIAN BALAKRISHNAN FOREIGN MINISTER DURING THE FIRST PLENARY SESSION, “STRENGTHENING MULTILATERALISM” DURING THE G20 FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING IN BALI ON JULY 8, 2022
Thank you Ibu Retno for the privilege of participating as a guest of the G20.
Singapore is probably the smallest nation here, smaller than Fiji. We are a city-state in Southeast Asia, multiracial, and trade is three times our GDP. We depend on a stable world that cooperates on the basis of multilateralism. But we are now facing a perfect storm – pandemic, war, energy crisis, bifurcated world, superpowers.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a frontal attack on the principles of the United Nations Charter. The United Nations Charter prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial sovereignty or political independence of any state, large or small. Whatever justifications we have heard today, they do not justify this total and frontal violation of the pillars of the Charter of the United Nations. And this, for a small city-state, represents a development deeply hostile to the security, survival and prosperity of all small states, which would also depend on international law.
I just want to make four quick points.
First, dialogue and diplomacy remain essential, and I am grateful to Indonesia for convening this meeting and including both Russia and Ukraine. And I hope honest to kind conversations will result from this opportunity.
Second, we must recommit to avoiding armed conflict. History shows that the devastating impact of war on all sides is real. And there are ultimately no winners. In fact, it is the powerless, the weak and the vulnerable who bear a disproportionate share of the suffering.
Third, we must update and strengthen the United Nations and the other international organizations also represented around this table, so that they remain fit for purpose as an effective framework for bridging differences, managing crises and fostering cooperation in a real and realistic way. .
The recent 12th WTO Ministerial Conference is a clear example where, with political will and compromise, we can put aside our differences and reach a consensual outcome that is acceptable to all and benefits all.
Fourth, we must uphold an inclusive and rules-based multilateral system; guard against protectionism; avoid reverting to a Cold War era; and avoiding bifurcations – whether in technology, multilateral finance or trade, or in digital standards.
Colleagues, multilateralism isn’t perfect, but it’s the only game in town. Thanks again for the opportunity to participate today. Thank you, Ibu Retno.
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SPEECH BY DR VIVIAN BALAKRISHNAN FOREIGN MINISTER DURING THE SECOND PLENARY SESSION, “FOOD AND ENERGY SECURITY” DURING THE G20 FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING IN BALI ON JULY 8, 2022
Thank you Ibu Retno. Singapore is an absolute food importer. Almost everything we eat, drink and consume must be imported.
Just a few quick points. First, stop weaponizing food. There was already an incipient food, energy and water crisis building up over the years, but we have a knack for making it worse. Let’s get rid of all the elaborate excuses or explanations. Let’s just let the food flow. The key role of the G20 now is to get at least Sea of Azov and Black Sea grain to world markets.
The second point is that we have to keep our borders open; we must resist the temptation of protectionism. We must avoid the political reflex of exporting. These are siren calls, but ultimately self-defeating on a global level.
Third, we must transform our food systems to increase yields. Without a significant increase in food technology and yields, we will not be able to overcome the shortage. There are controversial topics like GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms). I know some countries operate on the precautionary principle, but we really need to be realistic about how we are going to feed the growing world population. Likewise, we also need to better manage IUU (illegal, unregulated and unreported) fishing because when we deplete our fish stocks, we only create problems for ourselves. For some of us, we have to depend on aquaculture. We also need to have the technology and be able to do it in a sustainable way.
The fourth point concerns the energy transition. In a sense, the current geostrategic crisis that we face has also made green energy development not just a green issue, not just a resilience issue, but in fact, a national security issue. It is yet another imperative that we must work together, share the fruits of research and development, facilitate cross-border renewable energy trade and the supply chains that support it. I would also add that for those of you who are capable of safe civilian nuclear energy, this is also an added bonus. Otherwise, in the short term, even as we make the energy transition, coal will remain a large part of baseload power generation.
My call to the G20 is to stop weaponizing food, move food across borders, support research and development, and help us move into a sustainable world where we can feed people and we don’t. let’s not make things worse.
Thank you very much to all.
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Photo caption: Singaporean Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi at the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting in Bali on July 8, 2022
Photo credit: Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Photo caption: Singaporean Foreign Minister Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan at the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting in Bali on July 8, 2022
Photo credit: Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Photo caption: Singaporean Foreign Minister Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan delivers a speech during the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting in Bali, July 8, 2022
Photo credit: Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Photo caption: Singaporean Foreign Minister Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan at the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting in Bali on July 8, 2022
Photo credit: Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Photo caption: Singapore Foreign Minister Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan and Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meet on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Bali, July 8, 2022
Photo credit: Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Photo caption: Meeting of Singapore’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Bali , July 8, 2022
Photo credit: Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Photo caption: Meeting of Foreign Minister of Singapore, Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, and Foreign Minister of India, Dr. S Jaishankar, on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Bali, July 8, 2022
Photo credit: Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Photo caption: Singapore’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, and France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna, meet on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Bali, on July 8, 2022
Photo credit: Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Photo caption: Meeting of Singapore Foreign Minister Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan and Mexican Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting in Bali, July 8, 2022
Photo credit: Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Photo caption: Meeting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Singapore, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain, Jose Manuel Albares Bueno, on the sidelines of the meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the G20 in Bali, July 8, 2022
Photo credit: Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Photo caption: Meeting of Singapore’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, and Argentina’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship, Santiago Cafiero, on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Bali, July 8, 2022
Photo credit: Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs
