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Leaders needed to strive in particular "for a world economy that works for all people not just a fortunate minority," the UN's top official said.
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet, another high-profile guest speaker, underscored a growing gap in pay between top-level executives and others, which he said were not only due to economic and technical trends.
"There is also a problem of values," Trichet said, while also noting that many rich Americans had made substantial financial gifts to charitable foundations.
Trichet suggested that "we are at a turning point" in terms of such values as billionaires like Warren Buffet and Bill Gates incite others to give away large parts of their fortunes to ensure development elsewhere in the world.
But even the massive amounts of dollars such people can muster will not be enough to meet the needs of hundreds of millions worldwide.
Citing one "new-generation challenge," Ban said: "There are now more than 200 million international migrants. The economic crisis has exacerbated their vulnerability."
"No country or group -- no matter how powerful -- can take on the major issues of the day alone," Ban said.
The UN chief pointed to the meeting next month in his native South Korea of the G20 group of developed and developing nations, and said that "development issues will be high on the agenda."
He also stressed the need to support a referendum on self-determination in southern Sudan.
"We must assist the Sudanese people in finding a peaceful way through one of the most important passages in their country's history," Ban said.
Morocco's King Mohammed VI sent a message to the conference to say that "our country, just like the countries of the South - especially in Africa - looks forward to the emergence of fair globalization which contributes to balanced, consistent and sustainable growth and human advancement."
IFRI president Thierry de Montbrial called a broad discussion of how to foster global governance an "absolute necessity," and added that "there are reasons for concern, without being pessimistic," on situations such as those in the Middle East.
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European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet, another high-profile guest speaker, underscored a growing gap in pay between top-level executives and others, which he said were not only due to economic and technical trends.
"There is also a problem of values," Trichet said, while also noting that many rich Americans had made substantial financial gifts to charitable foundations.
Trichet suggested that "we are at a turning point" in terms of such values as billionaires like Warren Buffet and Bill Gates incite others to give away large parts of their fortunes to ensure development elsewhere in the world.
But even the massive amounts of dollars such people can muster will not be enough to meet the needs of hundreds of millions worldwide.
Citing one "new-generation challenge," Ban said: "There are now more than 200 million international migrants. The economic crisis has exacerbated their vulnerability."
"No country or group -- no matter how powerful -- can take on the major issues of the day alone," Ban said.
The UN chief pointed to the meeting next month in his native South Korea of the G20 group of developed and developing nations, and said that "development issues will be high on the agenda."
He also stressed the need to support a referendum on self-determination in southern Sudan.
"We must assist the Sudanese people in finding a peaceful way through one of the most important passages in their country's history," Ban said.
Morocco's King Mohammed VI sent a message to the conference to say that "our country, just like the countries of the South - especially in Africa - looks forward to the emergence of fair globalization which contributes to balanced, consistent and sustainable growth and human advancement."
IFRI president Thierry de Montbrial called a broad discussion of how to foster global governance an "absolute necessity," and added that "there are reasons for concern, without being pessimistic," on situations such as those in the Middle East.
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