On 28 May 2020, His Excellency General Prayut Chan-o-cha (Ret.), Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, joined more than 60 world leaders and international organizations in delivering remarks (pre-recorded) at the virtual High-level Event on Financing for Development in the Era of COVID-19 and Beyond, following the invitation by the Prime Minister of Canada, the Prime Minister of Jamaica, and the United Nations Secretary General.  

 

The High-level Event was the first virtual gathering of world leaders, under the framework of the United Nations, to discuss the global response to the socio-economic impact of COVID-19. The Event aimed to accelerate the global response and advance concrete solutions to address the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 focusing on 6 critical areas, namely: the need to expand liquidity in the global economy and maintain financial stability; the need to address debt vulnerabilities of developing countries; the need to engage private sector creditors in effective and timely solutions; enhancing external finance and remittances for inclusive growth; measures to foster domestic resource mobilization and prevent illicit financial flows; and ensuring a sustainable and inclusive recovery by aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals.  

 

The Prime Minister joined the call from other world leaders for international solidarity to address the impact of COVID-19 on people’s well-being, way of life and economies around the world.  He stressed three important areas for actions.  First, is investing in a resilient health system and universal health coverage (UHC). From Thailand’s experience, UHC and network of village health volunteers have contributed to our ability to control the spread of COVID-19 infection.  Second, is the need for global commitment to a trade and investment friendly environment, as well as an open multilateral trading system, so that international trade and investment can serve as engine for global economic recovery.He also underlined the need to ensure global economic and financial stability in order to assist developing countries, especially the least-developed countries. Third, is working towards a more sustainable future, including by protecting environment and managing natural resources more efficiently. The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of engagement of people and experts from various sectors in ensuring effective COVID-19 response and recovery. Lastly, he expressed Thailand’s readiness to work with the international community to build back better and create more sustainable future for our societies.

(Translation) Statement by H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha (Ret.) the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand at the High-level Event on Financing for Development in the Era of COVID-19 and Beyond Thursday, 28 May 2020