ASEANEWS HEADLINE-Second World Summit for Social Development | UN, New York, USA: Laos calls for people-centred development approach at UN meeting

Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith (front right) leads the Lao delegation attending the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, Qatar.

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World Summit for Social Development: Hope through collective action – UN Chief | United Nations

Opening remarks by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, at the Second World Summit for Social Development WSSD2 (Doha, Qatar 4-6 November 2025).

António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, recalled that the first gathering in Copenhagen in 1995 was “a moment of moral clarity”, reminding the world that “true development isn’t about prosperity for the few — it’s about opportunities for the many”.

He hailed progress since then — more than a billion people lifted from poverty, near-historic low unemployment, and expanded access to healthcare, education and social protection — all achieved through “actions by the global community to deliver on the promise of the 2030 Agenda”.

But today, he warned, the world faces “high global uncertainty, divisions, conflicts and widespread human suffering”. Hunger, poverty, and displacement persist, while “developing countries are not getting the level of support they need”. The world is “not moving fast enough” on climate change and is “falling short on the Sustainable Development Goals”.

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The government’s top priorities are poverty eradication, job creation, and improvement of education and public health services, especially for women, children, people with disabilities, and communities in remote and rural areas.

This was the message from Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith when addressing the Second World Summit for Social Development, which took place in Doha, Qatar, from November 4-6.

He noted that the poverty rate had decreased significantly from 46 percent in 1993 to 16.87 percent in 2023, demonstrating the government’s continued commitment to improving the well-being of the Lao people.

The Deputy Prime Minister said social development is a top priority of the government, as reflected in efforts to promote inclusive growth and improve the living conditions of all citizens.

Mr Saleumxay also underlined the importance of strengthening cooperation with development partners, the private sector, and international organisations through mechanisms such as the United Nations Roundtable meeting, to ensure that social development initiatives remain relevant and responsive to current global and national contexts.

 

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He called on the international community to further enhance cooperation within multilateral frameworks and to focus on people-centred development.

He identified key areas for future collaboration, including technological advancement, energy transition, climate change response, and integration between regional and international development frameworks.

The President of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Ms Annalena Baerbock, chaired the Summit, which brought together heads of state and government and high-level representatives from 166 countries and international organisations.

Officially opening the Summit, the Emir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, reaffirmed Qatar’s commitment to promoting people-centred development through education, social protection, and the creation of decent work opportunities to ensure social justice and inclusion.

 

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Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that addressing poverty, job creation, access to social protection, and sustainable financing are essential for narrowing global development gaps.

He called for strengthened international cooperation to advance social development both nationally and globally.

The Summit reviewed the implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted in 1995, and concluded with the adoption of the Doha Political Declaration of the Second World Social Summit for Social Development, which will guide Member States in integrating social development into their national socio-economic development plans.

The Doha Political Declaration reaffirms the shared commitment of all countries, including Laos, to work closely with development partners and international organisations to promote people-centred and inclusive development in the years ahead.

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By Times Reporters
(Latest Update November 7, 2025)