‘The current financial crisis threatens the well-being of billions of people, none more so than the poorest of the poor. This only compounds the damage being caused by much higfher prices for food and fuel,’ he told a gathering of world leaders and top figures from the private sector and civil society.

‘We must rise to all of these challenges immediately. We must inject new energy into the global partnership for development,’ he told the meeting called to review implementation of the poverty reduction Millenium Development Goals (MDGs).

The high-profile event, held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly's general debate, features a plenary session at UN headquaters along with 40 partner events around New York focusing on malaria control, education, water and sanitation for all, gender equality and food security.

Among those taking part are British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, World Health Organization head Margaret Chan, World Bank President Robert Zoellick, and U2 singer and global anti-poverty campaigner Bono.