PRIME Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday reaffirmed Thailand’s role as a responsible member country seeking to help the United Nations in its mission to maintain global peace and happiness.
In a speech given on the occasion of United Nations Day, the prime minister also said His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej had been praised by many UN member states as “a monarch who was a genuine leader”.
More than 20 member states adopted the late King’s Sufficiency Economy philosophy in their development projects, Prayut said, including Timor-Leste, Indonesia, Laos, Afghanistan, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Nicaragua.
“This has made Thailand proud that we could share good practices at an international level,” Prayut said in his address broadcast nationally yesterday morning.
The prime minister said Thailand’s work within the UN had been acknowledged by international bodies as well as fellow member states. He said that over the past seven decades as part of the international community, Thailand had given input and shared in problem solving, while contributing to the UN’s development and the progress of its member countries.
Prayut said 2016 had proven to be a year of major changes for the UN, as it was the first year of implementation of many pivotal global treaties, a process in which Thailand played a strong role. For Thailand, he said, the year was also significant because it was the first time that the Kingdom acted as chairman of the Group of 77 developing nations.
The PM also said that in September he represented Thailand at the 71st UN General Assembly in New York, allowing him to outline King Bhumibol’s Sufficiency Economy philosophy to the assembly.
“I was told that at a UN assembly on October 13, the meeting chairman read a eulogy for His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and representatives from the 193 member countries observed a moment of silence in honour of the King,” Prayut said.
The King’s passing was announced on that day.
Prayut expressed admiration for the work of outgoing UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
and welcomed his successor Antonio Guterres, who he said had the experience and determination to drive the global body towards its goals of ensuring peace, prosperity and stability in the world.
He reiterated that Thailand would continue working with the UN as a responsible member state for the benefit and happiness of the world.