Gordon Brown has called for an end to the “age of irresponsibility”, ahead of White House talks with President Bush on the global financial crisis.
The prime minister told the UN General Assembly that “co-ordinated” solutions to the economic downturn were needed.
Mr Brown advocated a “new global order, founded on transparency, not opacity”.
US talks on a $700bn (£380bn) bail-out plan to revive the finance sector have ended in stalemate. Mr Brown is due to meet President Bush at 2120 BST.
‘Not just national’
The prime minister has voiced his support for the proposals put forward by the US government.
He told the UN: “This cannot just be national anymore. We must have global supervision…
“The age of irresponsibility must be ended. We must now become that new global order founded on transparency, not opacity.”
On Thursday, the prime minister urged world leaders not to use the financial crisis as an excuse to abandon efforts against global poverty.
Desire for stability
Mr Bush has proposed the US government take on the debts of struggling financial firms in an attempt to keep them afloat and also prevent a recession.
The prime minister said quick action was needed to stabilise the economic situation and that longer-term reforms to the world’s financial system were also needed.
“While the problem comes out of America, it has consequences for all of us and every family will want to know that we are doing everything in our power to ensure that there is stability,” he said.
Other issues on the agenda for the White House meeting are thought to include Iraq, Afghanistan and the situation in Georgia.
Meanwhile, a survey of 1,012 people for BBC Two’s Daily Politics show suggests 36% trust Mr Brown and Chancellor Alistair Darling most to steer the UK’s economy through the downturn.
Some 30% opted for Conservative leader David Cameron and shadow chancellor George Osborne, while 5% chose Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg and Treasury spokesman Vince Cable.
The poll, conducted ComRes on 24th and 25 September, suggests that 24% of people do not know which party offers the best option on the economy.
To watch Video: 7636165.stm
BBC 26 September 2008