Honourable Minister,

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

It is a pleasure to be here at the United Nations University.

I thank the Government and people of Japan for your warm welcome.

I am in Tokyo to chair a meeting of the heads of the entities of the United Nations.

It is the first time such a gathering is being held in Asia.

And it is fitting that it is in Japan.

Through the years – from my time as Secretary-General, and before that as High Commissioner for Refugees – I have seen firsthand the strong commitment of the Japanese people to the goals and values of the United Nations.

And this is, for me, a very emotional moment. During 20 years of extremely gratifying cooperation in Japan, this might be one of my last interventions in your country, until December many things can happen [that’s why] I didn’t say my last intervention in this country.

I visited Japan more than 20 times, as UN High Commissioner for Refugees and as Secretary-General.

I always found strategic cooperation and support that benefited millions of people around the world, and the warmth of a true friendship. Arigatō.

I was proud to be the first Secretary-General to attend the peace ceremonies in both Nagasaki and Hiroshima.

I will never forget the bravery and commitment of the atomic bomb survivors —
the hibakusha.

Their message of peace continues to inspire me and so many others around the globe.

A world without nuclear weapons is a goal deeply engraved in the DNA of both Japan and the United Nations.

When Japan was hit by the devastating earthquake and tsunami in 2011, the United Nations did its best to support Japan’s response and recovery efforts.

Japan transformed that experience into global leadership on disaster risk reduction.

Across the years and across the issues, the UN has benefitted enormously from Japan’s generosity and commitment to the multilateral system.

And Japan has successfully leveraged its role at the United Nations to grow its diplomatic influence and build economic prosperity and peace through a stable and cooperative global system.

For all these reasons and more, I am proud to celebrate with you the seventy-year partnership between Japan and the United Nations.

We honour your many years as a powerful champion of multilateralism.

From peacekeeping to peacebuilding to human security.

From humanitarian assistance to sustainable development.
From disarmament to climate action.

From education to universal health coverage.

This anniversary is a moment to look back with gratitude — and look forward with renewed determination.

The need for multilateralism has never been greater.

Dear friends,

Our world is in turmoil.

We see geopolitical divides deepening.

Conflicts raging.

Inequalities widening.

Climate chaos accelerating.

And new technologies advancing faster than our capacity to govern them.
And yet, I have hope.

The United Nations was created precisely for moments like this.

Over eight decades, advanced human rights and international law.
Delivered lifesaving humanitarian aid.
Reduced poverty and brought countries together around shared goals.

And prevented a third world war.

Of course, our institutions must always adapt.

The Pact for the Future is a commitment by Member States for a more effective, inclusive and networked multilateralism.

Our UN80 Initiative is designed to ensure that the United Nations is equipped to deliver.

Japan understands all of this deeply.

The concept of human security — which Japan has long championed — reminds us that the measure of our work must be in people’s lives.

In their safety and health.

In their ability to live in dignity.

In their access to food, water and sanitation.

In ladders of opportunity towards a better future for themselves and their communities.

That spirit of working together for human progress was on full display at Expo 2025 and the UN Pavilion in Osaka.

I had the honour of visiting the Expo on the United Nations Special Day.

The United Nations Pavilion carried the theme “United for a Better Future”.

It provided a window into the daily work of the UN System – for peace, human rights, sustainable development and climate action.

It was also an extraordinary example of the UN acting as one family, joining forces with Japan and other partners.

The lessons extend far beyond the Expo.

First, people need to see multilateralism in action.
When the work of the United Nations is made tangible — when people can connect it to their own lives and communities — trust grows.

Second, communication matters.
At a time when disinformation and cynicism are spreading, we must tell the story of multilateralism with clarity, honesty and humility.

Third, partnerships are indispensable.
Expo 2025 showed the power of governments, the UN system, local authorities, academia, the private sector, civil society and young people working together.

And fourth, the future must be co-created.
And again Expo 2025 challenged us to imagine the kind of future we want.
That question is at the heart of our work today.

The future of multilateralism will be secured by courage, reform and delivery.

It will require institutions that reflect today’s world, not the world of eighty years ago.

It will require financing that matches ambitions.
And it will require peace efforts rooted in prevention, diplomacy and human rights.

It will require climate justice and acceleration on the Sustainable Development Goals.

It will require digital and technological governance that puts humanity first.
It will require young people not as spectators, but as architects of the future.

And it will require reforming global institutions — including the UN Security Council and the global financial architecture.

This is fundamental to enhance effectiveness and legitimacy in addressing today’s complex and multipolar world.

Excellencies,

Dear friends,

Japan’s continued partnership will remain essential.

Japan has much to contribute to the next chapter of multilateralism – as a bridge-builder … as a defender of the Charter … and as a champion of human security.

For 70 years, we have stood shoulder-to-shoulder to secure a better, healthier, fairer and more peaceful world for all.

Today, as we celebrate seventy years of Japan-UN cooperation, let us renew our shared commitment.

Let us strengthen a multilateralism that earns trust — through action, solidarity and results people can see, feel and believe in.

And let us carry forward the spirit of Expo 2025: United for a better future.

Arigatō.

*****