Horta spoke at the UN’s leader’s dialogue on ‘Strengthening integrated policies and public institutions for achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs)’ on Monday in New York in a diplomatic session that was overshadowed by announcement of the world failing to meet most development goals. 

“The negatives are external,” Horta said in a speech in which he touched on Timor-Leste’s development gains in education, health, electricity, and governance.

He recalled that, upon its independence in 2002, his country had 21 doctors, one PhD and no electricity.  Today, he said it boasts 16 universities, 96 per cent electricity coverage, and is ranked as the number-one democracy in South-East Asia.  

Earlier, world leaders warned of the peril the world faces unless it acts with urgency to rescue a set of 2030 development goals to wipe out hunger and extreme poverty and to battle climate change.

Their declaration, adopted by consensus at a summit before the annual U.N. General Assembly, embraces a 2015 "to-do" list of 17 Sustainable Development Goals that also include water, energy, reducing inequality and achieving gender equality.

"The achievement of the SDGs is in peril," the declaration reads. "We are alarmed that the progress on most of the SDGs is either moving much too slowly or has regressed below the 2015 baseline."

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the summit of leaders that only 15% of the targets are on track and that many are going in reverse.

The SDGs were created in 2015 as an urgent call to action, setting out a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet by the year 2030. 

Seventeen interrelated targets were set, including No Poverty, Good Health and Well Being, Quality Education, Gender Equality and Affordable and Clean Energy.