The Post-2030 Agenda and the Future of Global Development (HLPF 2026 Side Event)

Dear colleagues, welcome you on the side event. The name of it you see on the screen. Very glad to see you for your attendance and hope for the fruitful discussion. I won't be long in my introduction. Just only will say that I'm representing the Stolypin Institute for Economic Growth, a Russian analytical We work on different matters, including sustainable development, and we are working very tightly with Mr. Boris Titov, who is here today and who is the Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation to interact with international organizations to achieve Sustainable Development Goals. So it may seem for Some people, for many people, that it's too early to begin to discuss, uh, the post-30-year agenda while the agenda of now, the current agenda, is still not finished. But we also know the problems the current agenda faces. I think by my And observance of many people, there is a consensus that it must be rethought, and the world community needs enough time to do it because so as we see, the things are not so easy to seal this such a complex project to. Bring the weighted results, and we need a lot of expert discussion, and we need a lot of grounds with different opinions together after all of it, uh, to get finally the result. Because now I think it's a quest for everybody what to do with the SDG agenda now. So this is the topic of the day.

We want—

we have some speeches presumed and we hope for a discussion and we hope that our today's meeting will be one of the branches of this discussion that will bring some new ideas and some help for the whole process of rethinking the agenda after 2030. So, and now I want to pass the floor to Mr. Dmitry Chumakov, who is the Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations, and Russia hosting the ground. So, Dmitry, please.

Thank you very much.

I would like to put focus on a couple of things.

I'm happy to see you, colleagues and friends.

I wanted to remind that the first decision-making on post-2030 agenda will be taken by the General Assembly in 2027 when we have the SDG Summit under the auspices of General Assembly, and I also want to remind that All the agreements, conventions, and documents are working for a long time if they're carefully negotiated, thought through. So I would like to support the idea of Mr. Anton Sveridenko that it's never early to start thinking to have a good product.

And third, Agenda 2030 is a very Holistic comprehensive document, and everyone is dedicating so much attention to it because it's actually how the people's life is organized. Whether we have the welfare goal in front of us, how do we achieve it? So since it's everyday life of every person, this topic is cannot be overestimated.

So we're happy that Mr. Titov has.

made a long way over ocean and joined us to head our delegation— 2 oceans—

and head our delegation to HLPF, and I'm passing the floor to you, Excellency. Thank you.

First of all, thank you for responding on this, our call to come here and start the discussion, because I think this discussion would be the most profound, the most global, the most important discussion in the nearest future. Of course, my colleague Dmitry already said that the real talk would start in '27, and— but we have to be prepared. I mean, we can't wait passively until '27 not having already concrete proposals how the world should take what program the world should take after 2030. I can say that, of course, Sustainable Development Agenda, the SDGs 2030, was perhaps the most ambitious global idea in the history of humanity. It was a dream of a better future, an attempt to create the architecture of a more just world, a model of interaction among peoples and states for the common good. Good said, yes? And I think it's the truth because it gave a new language to the world. I mean, the people started thinking the same way, achieving the goals which are good for everybody. I mean, that was a very ambitious but very interesting and very useful thing to do. But the ambitions were very high. I mean that sometimes the thoughts, these ideas were quite away from the reality. And the concept for making the world better, all the world together better, was quite far away from the national interest, from the national tradition, national economical situations, and finally we see the result. As we have to say frankly that today we are very far from achieving the concrete results. So we decided to start this talk today. today to start the process. We first— what we made, we gathered a big group of experts in Astana, in Kazakhstan, where we started discussion of these matters. That was chaired by the President of Kazakhstan, but then the organizers were the 2 institutions— the 2 universities, the University of Astana, Kazakhstan, under the name of Gumilev, It's called Gomelov Eurasian National University, and my university where I graduated from, it's MGIMO, the Russian Moscow University of International Affairs. And the conference brought together more than 50 participants from different countries. We— they came from United Kingdom, Germany, India, Kazakhstan, Latvia. I'll mention them all. Malaysia, Morocco, Mexico, Pakistan, Mexico, Pakistan, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, and the United States, Thailand, France, Switzerland, and South Africa. But Indonesia was last moment, couldn't make it last minute. All right, so we discussed the current fulfillment of SDGs. We discussed how— what are the main problems and how these problems would be solved in the future. We made a resolution. we call them notes of the conference. We will talk of them a little bit more deeply in a bigger detail, and I will pass the floor to Anton Sveridenko, back to Anton Sveridenko, who will give us the presentation about that.

Thank you very much.

So I will make a little intervention on the ideas we talked about.

So we have made a brief sum of ideas that. Expert brings about the SDG agenda, not focusing on the current state and on the numbers. I think everybody heard and saw the numbers during the interventions on the plenary sessions of the IHLPF, but what is a consensus, as we think, is that the world now became much more complex than in 2015 when the SDG agenda was adopted. Today we see that old challenges have gained new intensity, but not only this, also fundamentally new threats have emerged alongside them. So you can see them on the screen and we'd highlight several topics like, for example, increase of debt, especially of developing countries, and, you know, middle-income countries now have a debt of $1.4 trillion, the money that could be put into development but there is no way to do it. So it's a burden for the agenda. So for sure, The fragmentation of trade, disrupted supply chains, rising trade barriers, unilateral coercive measures, and for sure we all see the weakening of multilateralism. But not only this, of course, a big technological shift that is happening and is waiting to happen further. So the governance of artificial intelligence, growing cyber threats, misinformation, digital polarization of societies, they all require the mutual answer. But these things, these challenges, old and new, in— so the meaning of today were not put in the agenda, and one of the reasons it doesn't work. It's just we have another challenges now. So, but the idea of sustainable development—we agree with a lot of speeches on this forum—it remains important, important framework that unites the world. Common idea, common development principles. We now have a universal language to speak because when you say SDGs, everybody understands what it is about and what are the goals. The common system of indicators, many criticize and we still suffer the lack of information and indicators, but anyway there is a framework. You can measure any country. And compare them. So, and for sure it's a big experience. Many people say it's too bureaucratic and bureaucracy shall be decreased, but it's an experience of cooperation. And without the agenda, so we will have even less matters to cooperate on. So we will Like, in expert dialogue, we understand that better, that the agenda would be preserved and maybe extended until 2050, but functions should be restored. So, uh, as Boris said, those were noble illusions that we can turn the world to the better state with this program, but we should turn to really pragmatic solutions.

Leave the energy.

What are the first results of our dialogue? To concentrate on main fields. So for sure we need to have the technology track, separate technology track about shared digital infrastructure and governance of AI. So the conflict management has also taken new significance, as everyone can see, and the special emphasis should be made on localization on sustainable development. On the one hand, this means translating the global agenda to the local and national levels. On the other hand, it means freedom to choose priorities on the ground in individual countries, implementing a sovereign approach to development. And that respects each nation's own path. And about the governments, the main idea— so the process shall be less bureaucratic because the management of such big programs on the UN level is ineffective. The programs should be formed, tested for efficiency, and after managed by interested alliance, coalitions of countries, multilateral financial institutions, and probably major companies. Everybody says about the bigger participation of private sector in the agenda while maintaining and retaining legitimacy but with less role in management and global south. As Global North shall be co-authors of the agenda. They both shall agree on the principles and main directions to participate inclusively in the process. So what should be the SDGs itself? Not a management model, but a framework. A barometer. So main function of the goals should be to set the goals, to agree on them, and assess the progress, to estimate it, to appraise, to be ready to react. But the management center shall be on the level of coalitions. So the SDG program not shall be more the management center, but center for defining the main goals and assessing them. So those are the main ideas. I think I already have expressed them, and we offer this to the— for the discussion. And we now can continue our discussion, so using our first thesis.

May I just a few words that this is a frame. I mean, this was the consensus of those experts who gathered in Astana, and we all together agreed on this main frame. But of course, this is not a final decision. We have many, many people coming and saying, "Look, I need more. First of all, more information. What are you thinking about? But also, I have ideas." We already had a second round of. Further ideas of our partners and experts. So we're open for further discussion and we will have a kind of a roadmap of discussions going through several offline meetings but a lot of online meetings which I think and hope finally will get the result in '27.

Okay, thank you very much. So We can continue and I would like to pass the floor to His Excellency Mr. Fabian Alfianto Rudhyar, Vice Minister of National Development Planning of Indonesia and head of Indonesian delegation today and a good partner of our efforts of our groups on SDG after 2030.

Thank you very much and at least I repay my absence in Kazakhstan at the very last minute at that time. First of all, distinguished Chair, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I think we are honored to participate in this very important discussion on the future of global development. The year 2030 should not mark the end of the Sustainable Development Goals. It should mark the beginning of a new stage in our collective development journey. For Indonesia, Beyond 2030 is not about replacing the SDGs. It is about renewing them, building on their achievements while also responding to a world that has fundamentally changed. Over the past decade, the SDGs have given the international community a shared vision and a common language for development. They have advanced cooperation and improved millions of lives. We cannot deny that. And that legacy must endure. Yet the world we face today is very much different from the one that adopted the SDGs in 2015. Geopolitical fragmentation now is deepening. Climate risks are escalating. Artificial intelligence is transforming economy faster than institutions can adapt, and demographic transitions are reshaping societies, and inequality remains persistent, then above all, trust between government and citizens, among nations, and in multilateral institutions is steadily eroding. And these challenges cannot be addressed simply by extending the ASEAN agenda. They require a new development of paradigm. For Indonesia, Beyond 2030 should become a renewed Global Development Compact, a compact that completes the unfinished business of the SDGs while at the same time preparing humanity for challenges that increasingly transcend national borders. The unfinished agenda must remain our moral responsibility: ending poverty, eradicating hunger, improving education and healthcare, achieving gender equality, expanding access to clean water and sanitation— these priorities do not become less important after 2030. They become more essential. At the same time, the next global framework must also recognize new priorities that will define development in the decades ahead. Building resilience against systemic shock, harnessing emerging technologies responsibly, managing demographic transformation, reducing inequality, and rebuilding trust as a strategic public good. Indeed, the defining development gap after 2030 may no longer be measured only by income. It may increasingly be measured by the trust gap. Without trust, investment declines, institutions weaken, international cooperation becomes more difficult, and development itself loses public legitimacy. Indonesia has learned another important lesson: development can no longer be organized in separate silos. Economic transformation, climate action, food security, energy transition, digital innovation, and institutional reform are deeply interconnected with each other. The future belongs to countries that integrate these agendas rather than pursue them independently. This understanding is embedded in our National Long-Term Development Plan 2025-2045, where sustainable development continues as the foundation of our journey towards Golden Indonesia 2045. Allow me to conclude with 3 reflections. First, the next global agenda must remain universal in its vision while recognizing different national capacities and development pathways. Global ambition should always be matched by fairness. Second, we should move from an agenda of delivery to an agenda of transformation, one that measures success not only by what economy produces, but by how society builds resilience, expands human capabilities, restores trust, and creates shared prosperity. And third, genuine transformation requires genuine partnership. Governments now cannot succeed alone. Business, academia, civil society, philanthropy, youth, and local community must become equal partners in shaping development. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, if the SDGs taught us that no one should be left behind, then Beyond 2030 should ensure that every nation and every person is empowered to move forward. That should be the true measure of development. Indonesia, of course, stands ready to work with all partners to build a post-2030 agenda that is more just, more resilient, more trusted, and ultimately more transformative. Thank you so much for the time.

Thank you very much, Mr. Ruggier, for your impressive speech and hope for Participation of UN and Indonesian experts on different dialogues and in our dialogue. You mentioned the resilience; that means the generation and mobilization of resources. And we also spoke a lot of on our grounds about it. And one of the ways we see is to boost SMEs through transfer of digital digital solutions. It's also a branch of our discussion for. Mobilizing internal resources should become a strong source for financing the gap. So, and now I would like to pass the floor to His Excellency Mr. Didar Temenov, Director of the Department of Multilateral Cooperation of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, the country who hosted— which hosted the— Ah, sorry. Sorry. We had an appeal to speak early, sorry. His Excellency Mr. Saulian Sui, Associate Administrator of UNDP, please.

Sorry about the change because I have to go to another event. I really appreciate this accommodation. But first of all, Mr. Titov and Excellencies, colleagues, you know, I would like to first acknowledge the longstanding partnership between UNDP and the Russian Federation through our trust fund to support developing countries. Over the years, I think we have worked together to support 54 projects in 33 countries, benefiting directly 4 million people and benefiting directly 5 million people and indirectly 40 million people. So I think, you know, we want to acknowledge this partnership and thank the Russian Federation for this support in the interest of our developing countries. Secondly, I really appreciate this opportunity to join this discussion, and while the implementation of the SDGs are not ideal, right, it is time to look forward as well, right? But one point I want to make is that while the progress of the SDGs is not ideal, it should not be overshadowed by the success it has achieved, right, because hundreds of millions of people have been lifted out of poverty, child mortality rate has been halved and so forth. So progress is there, it's just not sufficient, right? So we should try to build on the success that we have. Now, the question to ask about the future is that why development has not evolved as we hoped when we designed this in 2015 or before. I think it's because the assumptions we made at that time have really changed. Because at that time of design, we expected the world that would converge together more and more, converge, right? More and more globalization and freer trade. And ever-growing trade, right? That will create opportunities. And really, a lot of these assumptions have frayed, right? So this model that we designed as a current program, you know, is really no longer the same. So for the future, we need to have really new assumptions. So looking forward, you know, I think the UN does have a defining moment. To discuss this agenda. I think it's really great that Russian Federation and Kazakhstan are already, you know, really leading thinking about it. But the 2027 summit, SDG summit, I guess will be one of the most important early opportunities for UN membership to discuss this agenda, I think, right? So I think from our point of view, we are trying to really, you know, do some work to prepare for that moment, let's say. One is that— 4 quick points. One is that I think we need to take stock of what has worked, what has not worked, and why things are not working. So UNDP and DESA are talking about preparing some kind of stocktake report ahead of the 2027 SDG Summit to really look at, okay, What has worked, right? So who has been involved in planning, financing, and executing these plans at country level, right? And how much money has actually been spent to financing this development, right? And where does the money has come from, for example, right? So I think without— because this directly relates to not only the goals but also means of implementation, right? So I think there's some thinking that we're having to look at stocktake, okay? And, you know, the ODA, for example, is changing and so forth. What does that mean for this? The fact is that domestic resources have become increasingly important and blended financing and so forth. So this is one thing. We look at what has worked. The second thing I think is to to really have some kind of new reality check, right, the new assumptions, okay? And as I mentioned earlier, some of the assumptions that were there before no longer work, okay? But also, the world has not, you know, become more separated. In fact, we are being like more united by our common fate, right? The reality that climate, you know, impact for example, right? And some of the other issues like pandemic, okay, and, you know, the rules that hold, and a lot of issues will either work for everybody or work for nobody, for example, right? So this kind of reality has to also help define our thinking for the future, right? So this is some additional work I think we're going to do, okay? So what are the public goods that really have to exist for everybody? Right, and all for no one. So I think so. And how do we think about development as a first line of defense for you know peaceful and prosperous world for everybody? Right. So I think this is the second part. You know, we look at the third line of thinking is that we needed to look at okay, you know what are the new pathways for development? Why also look at what the older solutions that have not worked well but still need to work. The new things that we can think easily, like artificial intelligence, digital solutions, and so forth, right? But here we need to make sure that this, you know, digital solutions, AI, don't increase the divide, right? Rather close the divide and enable, you know, people to have the agency, you know, for development. But the question also has to be asked, okay, in order to develop, we still need growth. For a country to develop, to double their GDP, let's say, you need 7% growth every year for 10 years continuously. If we're talking about countries that move from low income to high— to lower middle income, to low middle income country to upper middle income countries, you cannot achieve that without sustained economic growth. So what makes the growth happen? How do you align development vision with financing, with governance institutional capacity to deliver? So while we talk about AI, we talk about new technology and so forth, you still have to look at the basics. I think when we design the next set of programs, we still have to really look at all these issues. The fact that it is remittance, it is domestic resources, remittance, and the private financing that is driving most of the development in developing countries already. ODA is declining as a fraction of what is available. But how can we use ODA as catalytic financing to crowd in private financing? So these are the issues for future, I think, that are going to be really critical. And lastly, I would think that We really needed to focus on these questions of, you know, capabilities, right? You know, what is the theory of change for development? We talk about theory of change for our programs, projects. Every time we develop a project, we have a theory of change, right? Inputs, outputs, whatever. But what ultimately is the theory of change for development, for sustainable development, right? So how can we enhance capabilities of countries? Because in the future, it is not developed countries helping developing countries to develop. That era, I think, is over almost, I would say. The ODA is still important. I'm not diminishing the importance of ODA, but increasing— even look at developing countries today, it's a vast amount of development financing is from their own resources, right? So how can we enhance that capability from a systems point of view? Look at risks, anticipating these risks, right, as we design it, really enhance countries' capability with hopefully the right theory of change for development, really aligning vision, financing, governance so that every country can achieve their aspirations for development. That's what I would like to contribute. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much, and I think the theory of change Theory of Change should be one of the ideas that the experts shall assume, checking what solutions work, and we will use your information in our work. Thank you very much. And if possible, attract your experience for it. So, and now I want to pass the floor to His Excellency Mr. Lidarte Menov, Director of Department of Multilateral multilateral cooperation of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, the country who hosted the mentioned forum in Astana.

Thank you, Mr. Moderator, and distinguished colleagues, Excellencies. We, Kazakhstan, welcomes the timely organization of this event, and I would agree with previous speakers about the importance of the Agenda 2030 and that it remains a cornerstone in international development cooperation. And also I do fully agree with Mr. Sviridenko, distinguished Vice Minister of Indonesia, that unfortunately the world today is fundamentally different from what it used to be and therefore we need to adapt the current Agenda 2030 to the current realities and the unfortunately the growing geopolitical tensions and new challenges as climate change technological transformation and AI it widens the development gaps and and we need to start thinking now about what should come after 2030 as indicated previously Astana hosted the 2nd Eurasian High-Level Conference on Sustainable Development where Astana Expert Group on the Post-2030 Agenda was established. Kazakhstan believes that the expert-driven discussions combined with broader participation of member states can generate practical and forward-looking ideas well before the formal intergovernmental negotiations begin. And from Kazakhstan's perspective, the future development framework should be guided by 3 principles. First, it must be implementing— implementation-oriented. The international community has adopted ambitious goals, but implementation continues to lag behind, and the post-2030 framework should focused on realistic, pragmatic, and measurable priorities supported by stronger financial mechanisms, enhanced national ownership, and effective monitoring. Second, it must ensure greater inclusiveness and equal opportunities for all countries, and developing countries should have equitable access to global financing, technology, Digital infrastructure and innovation. Bridging the digital divide and promoting responsible development of AI should become essential element of the future agenda, ensuring that technological progress benefits everyone rather than deepening existing inequalities. Third, it should strengthen multilateral cooperation and partnerships. Many global challenges can only be addressed through collective actions based on trust, dialogue, and respect for sovereign equality of states. Let me conclude that Kazakhstan believes that preparation for the post-2030 framework, which we— it should already begin now, and new agenda should be more focused, be more practical, more inclusive, and better equipped to respond to the realities of the 21st century. I thank you.

Thank you very much, and thank you very much for the support. And we wish Kazakhstan the effective leading of this initiative of Astana Group of Experts and hope for mutual effective work together. Thank you very much. And now I would like to pass the floor to His Excellency Mr. Ruwaida Al-Naimi, Director of Investment and Qatar Fund for Development.

Your Excellency Mr. Boris Titov and Excellencies, first of all, I would like to thank the Permanent Mission of Russian Federation for such a timely discussion, not at I think it's really much needed, and if we act fast from now up to 2050, it's really important. As we approach the final years of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the international community has made meaningful progress in advancing sustainable development. However, the pace of implementation remains insufficient, particularly for developing countries whose facing multiple and interconnected challenges. Ongoing armed conflict has triggered humanitarian crisis, widespread displacement, and the destruction of critical infrastructure and livelihood, while disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable population. At the same time, the escalating impact of climate change and the increasing frequencies of climate-related disasters continue to threaten lives and also undermine development gains. These challenges are compounded by mounting economic pressures and also including unsustainable debt burdens, limited access to development finance, and constrained borrowing capacity. Today, after the initiation of the SDGs, since its inception, there is always that fragment between the actual framework and the financial sustainability and also reliable financial aspect. The post-2030 Agenda development framework must build on the achievement of the current Agenda while addressing the structural obstacles that have hindered its implementation. It should remain firmly anchored in the purpose of the principles of the character of the United Nations, the 2030 Agenda, and also the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, and the principle of national ownership, recognizing the countries' have different capacity priorities and also development pathways. As we look beyond 2030, the United Nations must still remain the center of the global development architecture with the movement of the UN80 as well in terms of the fit of purpose as well achievement and to have more organized organizations that are well coordinated, most effective, and also efficient when it comes to delivering on these SDGs. Efforts to reform the United Nations should also reinforce, not diminish, its development pillars while preserving its intergovernmental inclusive and also member-state-driven character. A strong United Nations will be indispensable to implementing such remaining Sustainable Development Goals and also help us have an effective Post-2030 framework. For the state of Qatar, sustainable development is fundamentally about investing in people, strengthening resilient institutions, and also creating opportunities for future generations. Guided by our Qatar National Vision 2030 and our 3rd National Development Strategy, we continue to promote economic diversification, human development, and also digital transformation. The Future for Development agenda must also place a greater emphasis on the means of implementation, closing the financial gap, and also it requires stronger international cooperation and also enhanced domestic resources mobilization, innovative financing, technology transfer, capacity building, and the fair and inclusive resilient international financial architecture, and also the best practices when it comes to the Sevilla outcomes, especially after the several convenings for the financing for development. These should be incorporated in the future framework. Finally, while preparation for the post-2030 agenda should begin without delay, our immediate priority must remain escalating— accelerating implementation for the existing Sustainable Development Goals, and also these efforts should be mutually reinforcing, developing, delivering on today's commitment while also preparing effectively for tomorrow's challenges. The State of Qatar remains committed to working with all partners to strengthen multilateralism and also would like to also be part of the discussions when it comes to the Eurasia outcome. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Ms. We know the big experience Qatar has in development support programs all over the world, and we welcome the expert, Qatari expert, in these initiatives in the group and in Astana Group. I think Kazakhstan confirms it. Thank you. Thank you very much. And now we have one online guest many of you know. He is one of the founders of the idea of sustainable development, of development itself, and he's now traveling all over the world checking the SDG agenda, the green agenda. Now he's in Kazakhstan, but he had a big desire to intervene in our event, and we can now listen his opinion that he recorded. Mr. Jeffrey Sachs. professor at Columbia University and a well-known scientist.

Hello, I'm Jeffrey Sachs, University Professor at Columbia University and President of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

Just a moment, I have him on my screen but we don't see— sorry, if we can Ask for some technical assistance because when when это как это а вот это что ли? Делтошто мидяна лионасиопулучалась.

So we see him.

Mr. Sachs is closer and closer now.

Jeffrey Sachs, University Professor at Columbia University and President of United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network. And let me thank very warmly the Russian Federation for this kind invitation to join you through video in this important session on the Post-2030 Agenda and the Future of Global Development. This is a great initiative by the Russian Federation, and I thank you. And I come to you today in Almaty, Kazakhstan, where I have been traveling in Central Asia and watching many, many major advances, especially in the regional cooperation taking place in this region for the green and digital transformation. My main message for the post-2030 agenda is that the goals that we have set in Agenda 2030 and the 17 Sustainable Development goals are important. They need to be achieved. We need time to achieve them. We have not implemented at a global scale as effectively as we should. Too many shocks, too many wars, too many disturbances, COVID and all the rest. Too many governments, major governments, my own, I'm sad to say, are not focusing on this agenda. But these are the proper goals. Maybe they can be tweaked a little bit. We should add in a bit more emphasis, of course, on artificial intelligence, for example, in post-2030. But by and large, the Sustainable Development Goals remain the proper framework for us. What is crucial for the post-2030 agenda is implementation, implementation and implementation. We need to do better at actually achieving these goals that we have set. The goals are right. The achievement is our challenge. That means that implementation should be the focus of the Post-2030 Agenda. And I'd like to make 4 quick points on how to strengthen implementation. The first is to reform the global financial architecture. We need to move to a multi-currency system because, sad to say, the United States weaponized the dollar. It should not have done this. But the fact of the matter is we can have an efficient multi-currency system that is not weaponized. We need to put aside unilateral sanctions, whether by the US, EU, UK, or any other country. These are illegal under international law for country A to tell country B not to trade with country C. Come on. That responsibility lies solely with the UN Security Council, not with the decision of any single country. We need to expand the scale and scope of the major multilateral development banks. And fortunately, there are new and dynamic banks such as the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization Bank, the New Development Bank based in Shanghai of the BRICS countries—all of these need to be expanded significantly because we need this kind of official financing to help governments implement the investments needed to achieve the sustainable development goals. So, all of this is crucial, and I would add one more part of the global financial architecture: we're going to need some. Basic reliable global taxes, whether on aviation or on ocean shipping or on international financial transactions, to fund the UN system and to fund some of this multilateral financing. We can't depend only on the voluntary contributions which don't arrive, which also have been weaponized by the United States and others. To fund the crucial functions of the United Nations. So first point, global financial architecture. Second point, regional cooperation. It's a basic point of economics that prosperity depends on getting along with your neighbors, just like peace in your own neighborhood. Good economics is cooperation in the regional neighborhood. And for this, we also need trust and not militarizing neighborhoods. This is why the NATO enlargement, which the US had promised it would not do, has been so destructive because it divides neighbors and it creates tensions and war. So we need indivisible security. And we need regional groups in which neighbors are cooperating with each other, trading with each other, managing shared ecosystems with each other, trading green electrons with each other in an integrated power transmission system, sharing digital networks with each other. Regional cooperation, whether in the Eurasian Group, whether in ASEAN, whether in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Group, and African Union and others. We need regional cooperation. We also need much more serious planning, especially of the public investments needed for the transformations ahead, the transformations to green economy, the transformations to digital systems in production and in public administration. The transformations to improved excellence in education, the transformations to sustainable land use, the transformations to future cities. All of this needs to be planned far more systematically. The countries that are effective at this long-term planning are doing extremely well right now. And we need to have plans that extend to mid-century so that implementation is systematic on a long-term basis and understandable for the public and complementary between government and the business sector. The 4th point is we need a truly global United Nations. The UN is fraught right now The host country is sometimes seemingly running dead set against the UN. It's— the United States has left dozens of UN bodies in the last year, but the rest of the world wants the UN to succeed. And for this, I think we need major UN campuses in various parts of the world. I've recommended that China host a major campus on the green transformation because China's leading in those technologies. I've recommended that India host a major UN campus on using the new digital technologies for universal access and meeting the needs of the poor because India has done a spectacular job of this. I've recommended that Brazil host a UN campus on the future management and protection of the world's forests, because that's where Brazil has such high stakes and great scientific capacity. Russia could host a major UN campus on the future of the Arctic, which is under stress because of climate change, but also economic promise because of the opening of the Northern corridor and other economic opportunities as well. And Russia's the lead Arctic nation in terms of the land area of Russia in the Arctic. Could host a major UN campus on this absolutely critical part of the world's ecosystems and biome that is going to be consequential for all of humanity. My point is the UN is needed by everybody. It must be strengthened. It cannot remain only the preserve of UN headquarters in New York or the UN agencies basically in Europe with a couple in Nairobi. The UN should be represented all over the world so everybody feels that they are part owners and certainly beneficiaries of the UN system. All of this is to emphasize once again, we have set good goals for the world. Our task is implementation. For that, we need leadership. And I want to thank the Russian Federation for its leadership. Uh, in helping to keep this agenda front and center, uh, and to help us to meet the goals that we have set. Thank you so much for letting me share these thoughts with you today. I'm most grateful.

Not everybody share those.

But what strongly coincides with the opinions we gathered is idea of regional coalitions, of mutual implementation of regional coalitions. So rich speech that we will use also today. Ideas of a guru.

Taxes on aviation and shipping, the benefits of which would go to the funding of UN programs, a little bit I think have to be thought before taking decisions, yeah.

So let us continue, and I would like to pass the floor to His Excellency Mr. Alexei Pan Fyorov, Deputy Permanent Representative of Republic of Belarus to the United Nations, please have the floor.

Thank you.

Excellency Mr. Chitov, Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, as I would say, I would like to express my gratitude to the Russian side, especially to the Russian delegation to the UN, for organizing today's meeting. And for bringing to the fore the highly relevant topic of the post-2030 development. Is it particularly timely? As I think, as we have reached a point where it is undeniable that in practice the 2030 Agenda has hit too many practical obstacles, making its full implementation within the remaining 4 years appear idealistic. Such as politicization, multiple crises, trade barriers, sanctions, and security threats. Events of this nature allow us to rethink how we deliver on sustainable development. Therefore, looking forward to the horizon beyond 2030 and questioning what the international community must prepare for is, is a deeply justifiable and timely exercise in political realism. Belarus' commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development continues to be an absolute priority for our government. International experts estimate Belarus' SDG progress as quite high. According to a report prepared in 2026 by the SDSN SDG Transformation Center, Belarus ranked 35th among 169 countries. At the same time, we are looking further ahead to establish a highly resilient long-term framework for growth. As a logical evolution of these efforts, last year marked the official endorsement of our updated National Development Strategy. This landmark document extends our planning horizon to 2040, ensuring steady continuity of— in our pursuit of sustainable development. If possible, let me outline the core strategic priorities that drive Belarus' vision of sustainable development up to 2040. First, strengthening family values while creating robust opportunities for every individual to unlock their full potential. Then, delivering high-quality education tailored rapid technological advancements and the dynamic demands of the modern era, achieving technological independence and building a strong forward-thinking intellectual economy, fostering a competitive accessible business ecosystem that perfectly balances the interests of private enterprise and the state, prioritizing strict environmental safety and resource efficiency to protect our ecosystems for future generations. Deepening multilateral cooperation within key regional platforms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. And regarding this last point, I would like to note that Belarus supports the initiative of the Russian Federation to establish the Shanghai, Shanghai Cooperation Organization Organization Council for Sustainable Development, and we are ready to actively work in this area. In conclusion, allow me to use this opportunity to thank the Russian side for its consistent support of Belarus' efforts to nationalize and localize the Sustainable Development Goals. I thank you.

Thank you very much. So maybe not everybody knows, but Belarus is one of the best performers in the SDGs, and probably you have the experience that we put into the new agenda and hope to also to visit to see how SDGs are going in Belarus, because we are waiting for one of the events on the post-2030 agenda, especially in Belarus, probably this year. Thank you very much, and I would like to pass the floor to His Excellency Mr. Samuel Isachala, Deputy Permanent Representative of Ethiopia to the United Nations.

Thank you, thank you so much, Mr. Boris, distinguished delegates. I would like to thank the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation for organizing this event and for the invitation as well.

It is my pleasure to join this important conversation today.

The discussion on the post-2030 agenda is taking place at a time the world is facing multiple and overlapping crises and shocks with profound consequences for the SDGs. A candid assessment of the progresses and the enormous challenges that remain is important for reinvigorating the implementation of the SDGs beyond 2030. For implementation, for international cooperation. It is a universal blueprint to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure sustainable prosperity for all. With massive shifts in emerging technologies, increased digitalization, changing trade patterns, and the growing green transition, seizing the opportunity emerging from key megatrends has never been more crucial. That is why a discussion on the Post-2030 Agenda is not just and important, but also imperative for advancing more alignment, collaboration, and coordination. I would like to suggest the following 3 points on this crucial topic. First, renewing Sustainable Development Goals beyond 2030 is critical to protecting our planet and meeting the needs of future generations. Second, similarly, ensuring effective implementation architectures that address several major persistent gaps. Accelerates progresses, and the build on existing successes is indispensable. The central problem is neither a matter of ambition nor legitimacy. Indeed, the global sustainable development agenda is more indispensable than ever. The dominant challenge is not reinventing the wheel, but accelerating implementation through better financing, coordination, partnerships, and accountability. One of the critical questions remains: How can development goals? Be made more actionable at local, national, and global level. While global declarations are important public propositions, addressing the systemic difficulties facing the current SDGs is paramount. For instance, strengthening state ownership and capacity for a successful structural economic transformation is of vital importance. Equally important to the next development agenda, as Mr. Chu from UNDP And many others for achieving breakthroughs in realizing Sustainable Development Goals is critical. Advancing transformation in agricultural productivity, industrialization, and energy access remain central foundations in this regard. As no country or region can tackle the global challenges alone, renewing international cooperation and partnership is a major imperative. Last but not least, the successful adoption of the Cotonou Commitment is a significant milestone. It offers a once-in-a-decade chance to reform the international financial institutions, trade, and debt frameworks that remain at the heart of the current challenge. However, translating the commitment into concrete action is indeed the critical next phase. Looking ahead, the path forward should be led with clarity and a shared development vision that is committed to eradicating the most pressing challenges facing humanity and the planet. I thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Challa. Very important to hear the opinion of African community and of Ethiopia as one of the most active countries. And now I would like to pass the floor to His Excellency Mr. Gholam Hussein Darzi, Deputy Permanent Representative of Iran to the United Nations.

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. Thank you. Let me join my previous speakers and express my sincere appreciation to the Russian Federation for organizing this timely and important event and for providing the opportunity to exchange views on future of Global development beyond 2030. Excellencies, as we reflect on the future of global development, we must first ask ourselves an honest question: Why are shared development goals falling behind? In other words, what are the lessons learned? The answer is not a lack of vision, knowledge, or human capacity. The principal challenge has been the persistent gap between the international commitments and their implementation. Successive reports of the Secretary-General remind us that progress has been uneven, equalities have widened and many developing countries continue to face growing economic, social, and environmental pressures. Promise of finance, technology transfer, capacity building, and other means of implementation have too often remained unfulfilled. At the same time, Unilateral coercive measures and unlawful sanctions have become additional obstacles to sustainable development, restricting access to finance, technology, trade, and international cooperation. Development cannot flourish where political considerations undermine internationally agreed commitments. The development agenda beyond 2030 must therefore rest on stronger and fairer foundations. It must place human dignity at its center, while recognizing that peace, justice, mutual respect, and international cooperation are indispensable. Prerequisites for sustainable development. This requires genuine multilateralism over unilateralism, cooperation over confrontation, and partnership over exclusion. It also requires predictable means of implementation. Without adequate finance, technology transfer, capacity building, and enabling international economic environment, no development agenda, however ambitious, can succeed. The future agenda must remain focused on humanity's most pressing challenges: eradicating poverty, reducing inequality within and among countries, eliminating hunger, bridging the digital and technological divide, and addressing environmental challenges through solidarity and collective action. Equally important is the reform of global economic and financial governance. International financial institutions must become more representative, more inclusive, and more responsive to the priorities of developing countries. Those most affected by global challenges must have a meaningful voice in shaping the decisions that determine their future. The principles of the Charter of the United Nations including the sovereign equality of states, non-interference in internal affairs, and respect for national ownership of development policies must remain the cornerstone of international cooperation. The future of global development will not be determined simply by adopting the new framework. It will depend on whether the international community has the political will to replace division with solidarity, discrimination with equality, and unilateral action with genuine multilateral cooperation. Development must remain at the heart of the United Nations. Strengthening its development pillar through genuine multilateralism. Effective international cooperation and adequate means of implementation is essential to reduce inequalities, advancing the right to development, and building a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future beyond 2030. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Darzi. We hope for the conflict resolution in Iran and for better times for development framework, and we welcome Iranian experts in the initiatives you heard about. Thank you very much. With warm greetings and with warm feelings. And now we have an end of the list of the speakers who. was appealing to speak, like, in the program. And if there are some— any other opinions, we are open for the discussion. If you want to say, without any doubt. Yeah, yes, please.

Thank you very much, Excellency, and really our thanks to the Permanent Mission of Russian Federation for organizing this this event. My name is Vivek, I'm from the Permanent Mission of Singapore, and let me also commend really the suite of initiatives that have been announced today. The SCO Council for Sustainable Development, I think, will help to take forward these discussions, and we commend the work also of the Astana Group. So, very pleased that these discussions are happening, commencing early. We heard UNDP is also going to be working with DESA on putting together this stocktake ahead of the SDG Summit. In fact, from Singapore's perspective, we should be starting this conversation much earlier. If we looked at the runway we had when the SDGs were developed, 2013 to 2015 we had the political process, 2015 to 2017 we developed the SDG indicator, and then now we map it onto how much time we have left until 2030, you will see the runway is getting shorter. So we really commend the Russian Federation for commencing this conversation early. I wanted to bring in a little bit of the statistical piece. I think a lot of the conversation we've heard today, very complex challenges on SDG implementation. How do we move from aspiration to actual implementation, or to borrow the phrase from the Indonesian Minister, transformation? A lot of that, I think, has to do with data. Drawing on Singapore's own national experience in reporting against the SDG indicator framework, oftentimes there's a lot of challenges because either the data is not there or it is not easily mapped. So I wanted to make 3 very brief points. Or ideas to offer in the discussion that maybe can be taken on by the SCO Council or the Astana Group. The first is really how do we have a tiered approach to targets? So right now we have over 169 targets, many, many indicators. Not all of them are framed in a way that lends to implementation-focused delivery. Some of the data that's being collected is descriptive data. Aspirational data. I think that's very easy to report against, but with the purpose of implementing the SDGs, I think we could also explore what a tailored approach, a tiered approach to the SDG indicator framework could look like, and more importantly, how do we tailor that to national baselines, which then lends itself to SDG localization, national-level delivery. Today we heard from many of the speakers the importance of country ownership. I think I would push that a bit further, not just say country ownership in the terms of priorities, but also the domestic fundamentals, as USG Haoleang talked about. How do we also then create the— map the SDG international framework onto national baselines that are being developed by national statistical offices, so on financing, on governance fundamentals, all of that? The second point is really, yes, as I said, implementation-first design that measures delivery capacity, not just the descriptive data? How do we integrate better some of the indicators that have emerged since 2015? Here at the UN, we've talked about multidimensional vulnerability. We have developed one index. There are other indexes maybe on the way. We have the financial institutions also trying to pivot away from purely GNI economic-based indicators. So how do we integrate that into an implementation-first design for whatever succeeds the 2030 Agenda. And the third is interoperability by design. I think developing an international indicator framework is good for political optics, but then if it's not integrated or interoperable with national-level planning and statistics, and even then also, how do we make it interoperable across countries at the regional level? In my part of the world, it's ASEAN. How do we ensure that Singapore statistics on sustainable development coheres with ASEAN statistics on sustainable development, which coheres with the international framework of whatever succeeds the 2030 Agenda. So I think for this, investments in statistical offices are really, really important. So I wanted to offer these 3 brief points to maybe embed in the future discussions we have, but to also make the appeal that I think we should embed this not just in the SDG Summit next year, but in everything that leads up to the 2027 SDG Summit, we should already be starting to talk about this and have that frame in maybe in this year's UNGA and future processes. Thank you.

Thank you very much. So we take your ideas into our databank, and not the first time we hear about the data, the very big importance of data. And also we heard some interesting ideas from the Prime Minister of Singapore on the future agenda he has. So we will use it. And now I would like to pass the floor to China. China for sure is one of the leaders of the SDG agenda. It has its own data statistical framework, data science, and also has its own vision of how the SDGs should go, the Global Development Initiative. Maybe you conclude our discussion.

Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Moderator, for the kind words and for giving me the floor. And let me first express my appreciation to the Russian Federation delegation for organizing this very important meeting and bring up this very important topic to the agenda of the United Nations. I fully agree with the colleagues that as we approach the deadline of 2030, of course, the paramount task at this moment for us is still to implement the SDGs, which are a set of transformative, universal, and comprehensive goals. From now to the 2030. In the year of 2030, I think the most important task is to accelerate the implementation process. Like Professor Jeffrey Sachs emphasized, implementation is always important at this moment. I would say that every day matters and every action counts before 2030. So let's redouble our efforts to put as much targets and goals into practice, into reality as possible before 2030. Having said that, I think as we approach, get close to the next year's SDG Summit, which will give us a very important opportunity to identify the lessons learned, to take stock and evaluate what is successful and what is not, and to point out the right way forward. So from that point of view, I think discussions like today is gaining more and more importance and more and more, you know, momentum for the international community to build consensus how to move beyond 2030 And to build on the progress of the SDGs, and to you know to find out what are the obstacles, what are the challenges remained, and how to address the unfinished business, and how to address some new and emerging challenges, including those related to. Artificial intelligence, climate change, and some others, as mentioned by the previous speakers. And so China is, you know, we cannot say that China is a leader, but we are very keen to contribute our, you know, experience to the global development cooperation, including through this Global Development Initiative, to share our experience of, you know, the so-called high-quality development as we are now developing our new development paradigm, also drawing from the SDG, you know, set of goals. So it's a kind of 2-way traffic. China also learns from the outsiders' world, from our fellow member states. Also, we are willing to contribute with our experience. How to proceed, you know, is within the national context, as Singapore just mentioned, how to localize the positive SDG goals into our national context. And also, Professor Sachs mentioned how to make the planning. You know, planning is really important. As you know, we are now at the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan. So this is a concerted, coordinated effort between the international agenda and our national development agenda. So we cherish this very good opportunity to discuss with member states to try to find out what could be the next steps and to put our aspiration into reality. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much. implementing, not living thinking of the future. So we hope for participation of Chinese experts. It would be very important for us to integrate people from Chinese institutions because so big knowledge on the SDGs your country has, and also it has this Earth system on the SDGs.

Yes.

that measures these edges from space. We want the access if it's possible. Thank you very much. Big success. So are there any other requests to speak? Yes, please.

Thank you very much, Mr. Siridenko, Mr. Moderator. I'm Petal. I'm from the Permanent Mission of India. And it's an interesting time to be at this discussion. Just a week ago, my colleagues in capital were asking, are there any discussions on this happening already? And I said, no, I don't think so, not really. And then of course we received the invitation to your event. So great timing. And I guess, as has been pointed out, given that we're just a little over a year away from the next sort of milestone where this will become a more fruitful conversation. We appreciate you taking the lead and giving us a bit of a head start. India was mentioned several times. You mentioned that Indian experts participated in Astana in the discussions, and of course I heard Professor Sachs also mentioning his recommendation about an India campus for the UN. But I think at this stage we would welcome more information and the way forward as you see it and how we can contribute. We ourselves, and I quite agree when so many speakers mentioned that the SDGs have become a sort of universal language of how we view and talk about development, and for us as well, it's really been integrated into not just national policy but down to the very grassroots. So how we take this forward, how we build on achievements, and address challenges going forward is certainly something we would be very happy to contribute to. So we look forward to more information and your vision for the next steps. Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Also inviting experts from India, we had several, but for the amplification, we Welcome amplification of Indian experts in our groups. Okay, I see one hand more. Yes, please.

I've seen the short media report about Astana group meeting in Kazakhstan, and as far as I understood in this report, and I know that journalists not always reflect everything correctly, that the framework of people, planet, infrastructure, and security was discussed. And I wonder if it was really something that was discussed or it's just interpretation of journalists. So, and if so, can we consider it as an alternative to 5 Ps framework which was originally proposed? Thank you.

Can you represent yourself?

My name is Nelly Rahimova. I represent civil society. Thank you. In the media, when journalists were reflecting on the meeting in Astana— I mean, I can also say it in Russian if you want to. So it was said that it's the framework which was discussed, and I'm just asking if it really was discussed— people, planet, infrastructure, security. And yeah, just want to know if we should trust this information or the discussion is actually not there. Thank you.

Thank you.

And security questions less. What is the word planet? Planeta.

We have five Ps right now as a base for anti-third agenda: people, planet, prosperity. peace and partnerships. So I just want to know if it was discussed as an alternative possible framework for the future agenda.

So I think— well, Mr. Boris is the principal, but—

Yeah, maybe I will—

I cannot confirm.

Summarize in this case. And the Astana meeting was dedicated for the future program, mutual program for development. I mean, SDGs, we call it SDGs and we want to still call it SDGs, but the main ways to achieve the result, they were on the screen. There are security problems, international conflicts which have to be handled and which have to be seen and Something has to be done with that. Security of the nations, of course, security of the people, of course. First of all, now we talked about digital security, cybersecurity, because it's one of the main problems which didn't exist in 2015, but now it's one of the main problems which any country, practically any country faces. So if I understood your question, this is the way that the discussion was going and we achieved some preliminary results. I thank everybody speaking today because some things are very common. I mean, in any— in all the interventions, there were some basics which go the same from one speaker to another and I think this is the basis for our future work. I can say that some things are new, but most of the things we understand commonly. I mean, we understand the same way. And the future program, we understand that first of all, very interesting wording, tailored programs, tailored SDG national programs. Because of course we have to consider more national interest and national differences and national— how to say better— peculiarities, yes. And we can't tailor all the dressing, the same dressing for all the countries and the same— way. This is one of the things which we have to consider as well. The other thing is that we all talk about implementation, everybody, but how can we achieve it? Really, there is no understanding concretely what to do really to increase the efficiency of our work, of our programs and projects.

fulfillment.

We mentioned that we heard some very interesting ideas from the Prime Minister of Singapore in Hainan Forum and Boao Forum in Hainan, and he proposed that the program should be on a coalition base, that we don't have to do the programs, the same programs for everybody. on a global participating everybody. We need to name the main challenges, the main risks which we have to face and to do coalitions in different countries, business, maybe public organizations who are interested in fighting these risks. Approaching these risks by special programs and projects. And all of these stakeholders should structure, tailor the project and the program, finance it from the very beginning. Everything has to be clear with financing because, you know, we did a lot of projects, programs, very ambitious ideas, And then started thinking how to, in real life, to make them work. And this is— I'm a businessman. It's an awful thing to do in business. We have to have the project done, structured, tailored before we even started. But this, the project approach means Budget from the very first day, the very good professional project team, because now they are all doing a lot of things in these buildings here and in Geneva. Jeffrey Sachs suggested that we have something in China, Russia, and other places, India, but we have to say that these projects are not done in the administrative buildings. They are done, they are executed, they are implemented on the earth, on concrete realization, concrete projects and programmes. So teams and also data, how to measure what are the results, but the team should report first of all to the stakeholders, not to the United Nations, to the stakeholders. Because they are financing the project and they are structuring it. So this is a project approach for management of the concrete projects and programs. Of course, financing is a big problem and financial institutions— we heard from many speakers today that something has to be changed and of course the approach we did in 2015 with the today existing financial institutions doesn't seem working well, at least in the interest of the recipients, not the donors. So thank you again. It was a pleasure to see you here. I hope you will continue working with us. I mean, Astana Group, we are planning now the next offline meetings. Hope we will invite everybody. Hope you will participate in them. See you soon. Thank you.

Thank you.