On September 22, 2023, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Thailand, Srettha Thavisin, made his debut appearance at the United Nations General Assembly, marking a significant moment in Thailand’s diplomatic engagement on the global stage. In his address to the 78th session of the General Assembly, held at the UN Headquarters in New York City, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to working collaboratively with nations worldwide to advance sustainable peace, human rights, and environmental conservation.
Under the overarching theme of the General Debate, “Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating Action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress, and sustainability for all,” Thailand emphasized its vision: “Investing in peace, people, and planet for our common future.” Prime Minister Thavisin’s speech encapsulated the essence of Thailand’s role in the global community and its aspirations for the future.
The government spokesperson, Chai Wacharonke, shared the core messages and insights from the Prime Minister’s address:
Strengthening Democracy and Well-being: Prime Minister Thavisin highlighted Thailand’s new chapter in its democratic journey, expressing the government’s unwavering commitment to strengthening democratic institutions and values within the country. The well-being of the Thai people remains a central priority, with the government dedicated to uplift their quality of life. Thailand is poised to play an active and constructive role in international partnerships, fostering commerce, investment, and trade agreements that contribute to the prosperity of all.
Addressing Global Challenges: Thailand affirmed its intention to collaborate closely with nations worldwide to confront a range of global challenges. These include promoting sustainable peace and human rights, conserving the global environment and ecosystems, and advancing sustainable development. Recognizing that tackling such complex issues necessitates multilateralism and international cooperation, Thailand stood ready to engage on these fronts.
Advancing Peace and Human Rights: Sustainable peace, according to Prime Minister Thavisin, is intricately linked to human rights, human dignity, and freedoms. The government is actively working to advance equality and justice, particularly for vulnerable and marginalized populations. This entails strengthening the rule of law and enhancing transparency within the government. Thailand has put forward its candidature for the Human Rights Council (HRC) for the term 2025-2027, reinforcing its dedication to promoting human rights on a global scale.
Universal Health Coverage: The government highlighted its significant achievement of Universal Health Coverage, ensuring that all Thai citizens have access to essential preventive, curative, and palliative health services throughout their lives. Thailand plans to invest further in upgrading this program to enhance its quality, granting patients the freedom to choose healthcare providers regardless of their background. Additionally, Thailand advocated for the reform and strengthening of the global health architecture to create a more resilient and responsive framework for public health.
Sustainable Development: Sustainable development, essential for peace, prosperity, and progress, occupied a central place in Thailand’s address. Despite the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), significant progress remains elusive, with only 12% of the goals currently on track. The government plans to implement policies aimed at stimulating job creation, providing financial support to low-income families, and supporting vulnerable groups. Thailand also emphasized its commitment to the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) and the Bio-Circular-Green Economy Model to promote balanced and sustainable development.
Climate Action: Prime Minister Thavisin underscored the urgency of addressing the climate crisis, recognizing it as one of the most pressing global threats. Thailand welcomes initiatives like the Climate Ambition Summit to accelerate climate action. Thailand, a leading food and agricultural exporter, is working to mitigate the impact of global climate change on food security. The country is actively adopting measures to improve water management systems and farming techniques.
Thailand also highlighted its commitment to green finance mechanisms, including Sustainability Bonds, and a Thailand Green Taxonomy to stimulate growth and investments in environmental and social projects. The government’s pledge to achieve 40% Green House Gas emissions reduction by 2040, carbon neutrality by 2050, and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2065 reflects its commitment to mainstreaming climate actions in all economic activities.
In conclusion, Prime Minister Thavisin extended an invitation to all nations to be more ambitious in their goals, increase collaborative efforts, and share expertise to address global challenges collectively. Thailand expressed its expectation for the Summit of the Future to foster a better future for all by reinvigorating multilateralism with the UN at the helm, leading the global push towards sustainable peace and sustainable development.