On 25 – 26 October 2019, H.E. Mr. Vijavat Isarabhakdi, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand and Special Envoy of the Prime Minister, led the Thai Delegation to the XVIII Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Non-Aligned Movement (18th NAM Summit) held in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan. The Summit was graced by the presence of several heads of state and governments and high-level representatives from member states, observer states and international organizations, including H.E. Mr. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, President of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, and H.E. Mrs. Rosemary A. DiCarlo, Under-Secretary General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs of the United Nations.

 

The Summit was held under the theme “NAM Baku Summit: Upholding the Bandung Principles to ensure concerted and adequate response to the challenges of contemporary world", which covered a wide range of issues including international political and security issues, sustainable development, human rights and United Nations Reform. Two important documents were adopted at the Summit, i.e. the Final Document, which is the outcome document of NAM, and the Baku Declaration.

 

Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs delivered a statement at the Summit, underlining the importance of the promotion and protection of multilateralism, adherence to the UN Charter and international laws and promotion of international cooperation to address global challenges, such as inequalities, aggression and unilateralism. The Vice Minister also stressed that NAM must ensure that Bandung Principles, the founding principles of NAM, is honored and the Movement's efficiency, dynamics and relevance is improved in order to equip NAM with necessary tools to promptly deal with new emerging threats.

 

NAM was founded during 1950-1960 at the height of the Cold War. The first meeting was held in Colombo in 1954 in order to exchange views on international situations. Later, the 1961 Conference in Belgrade was the first official summit of the NAM. Currently, NAM member countries constitute the majority in the world, with 120 member states, 17 observer states and 10 observer international organizations. Thailand joined NAM on 4 October 1993 and actively participated in the Summits and meetings of NAM since. The NAM Summit is held once every 3 years.