The Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), Sha Zukang, said yesterday that Brazil is well qualified to ensure the success of the event, scheduled to be held in June in Rio de Janeiro. "You [Brazil] have shown better performance than most other countries, you have strong leadership and authority. It is Brazil’s responsibility to ensure that the conference is a success" he said while attending a public hearing in the Senate. "I am the Secretary-General, but the real leader is Brazil, and you are well qualified for this", he added. Sha Zukang said that it is necessary to consider economic development allied with sustainable development ". There are three pillars: economic & social development and environmental issues, which must be integrated in a coherent way. Without a good environment we cannot develop anything", he said. About 45,000 people will be involved in discussions and in organizing the summit, which is taking place two decades after the conference that marked the beginning of an era, Rio 92. The aim is to define an international model for the next 20 years, based on preservation of the environment, but with a focus on improving quality of life through the eradication of poverty by means of social programs, the green economy, and sustainable development for global governance. "There are 193 delegations. The conference itself is extraordinary complex. It is a renewal of our commitment to multilateralism as a legitimate way of solving global problems", said the General Under-Secretary for Energy and Technology of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Luiz Alberto Figueiredo, who also attended the public hearing.