SRETTHA THAVISIN, Prime Minister of Thailand, noting that he only assumed office a few days ago, said that he intended to strengthen his country’s democratic institutions and values.  On foreign relations, Thailand will play a proactive and constructive role in partnership with the international community, forging closer ties through commerce, investment and trade agreements.  In the face of multiple global challenges, including fragile global peace and declining human development, he said his country intends to work closely with all nations to tackle such challenges head-on.  Welcoming the Secretary-General’s New Agenda for Peace, he noted that Thailand’s vision for effective multilateralism is inclusive, resilient and result oriented, reaffirming its commitment to peace and inclusivity amid increasing international conflicts, violence and a shifting global order.

Highlighting the links between sustainable peace and development and respect for human rights, he said Thailand is working to advance equality and justice, especially for the most marginalized.  It will ensure that the law is fair, strictly enforced and applied to everyone equally.  Against this backdrop, he noted that his country is ASEAN’s candidate for the Human Rights Council for the term 2025-2027, which reaffirms its commitment to the advancement of human rights at home and abroad.  Turning to health care, he noted that his country plans to invest in upgrading its universal health-care programme, as the pandemic underscored the vital importance of such access.  Dealing with contagious diseases is the world’s shared responsibility, he stressed, calling for the global health architecture to be reformed and strengthened, including through the establishment of a pandemic treaty.

Underscoring the need to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, he said that his Government plans to enact policies to stimulate job creation and provide financial support for low-income families and other vulnerable groups, thereby helping create a more just society.  Emphasizing his country’s long-standing locally driven development approach, he highlighted its “Sufficiency Economy Philosophy” and its “Bio-Circular-Green Economy Model”, which leverages science, technology and innovation to advance economic growth, while conserving the environment and ecosystems.  “These are not merely concepts; they are being implemented in Thailand,” he said, pointing to its sustainable agronomy model, which reimagines the way farmers cultivate their lands and manage water supply.

Turning to the global climate crisis, an “urgent threat that requires collective and immediate action”, he said Thailand welcomed the Climate Ambition Summit to accelerate climate action.  The worsening climate crisis will exacerbate food insecurity and malnutrition, he said, noting that his country, which is a leading exporter of food and agricultural products, is impacted by climate change and El Niño.  Nonetheless, he enumerated measures taken by his country to bolster food security, including improving its water management systems and farming techniques, as well as its implementation of a green finance mechanism to boost growth and investments in environmental and social projects.  To this end, he spotlighted Thailand’s national energy plan, which integrates its climate targets, including to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent by 2040, through enhancing energy efficiency and increasing the share of renewable energy, among other measures.