Prayut hails King’s philosophy in UN address

Addressing the Group of 77’s ministerial meeting on the sidelines of the 71st UN General Assembly in New York on Friday, Prayut said: “Thailand believes that there is no absolute pattern to bring about development. For us, we have adopted the SEP that enabled us to surpass any crises we have faced. We even turned to be stronger after each [crises].”

It was one of the key events for Prayut to express Thailand’s leading capacity in the international arena despite its owngraded image since the junta staged the coup more than two years ago. At the meeting, Prayut praised the Group of 77’s progresses in carrying out the UN’s sustainable development goals, such as efforts to actualise a SDG global indicator and support the least developed countries in following the SDGs through negotiation mechanisms and south-south cooperation. 

In order to achieve the SDG goals by 2030, Prayut said the countries needed substantial financial, human and knowledge resources. 

He suggested that the group should seek outside cooperation, such as from the Group of 22 developed nations, to boost the developing countries’ capacities especially in terms of agricultural technology.

Prayut also suggested that the reform of domestic and international financial institutions was essential to ensure the required financial resources were accessible to all social sectors of Group of 77 nations so as to eliminate social inequality.

He stressed that the countries should boost education and the wellbeing of citizens to maximise potential. This included sensitive groups such as juveniles, the elderly, women and migrants, who should also be given equal opportunities.