On 19 February 2015 at 14.00 – 15.00 hrs., Mrs. Shamshad Akhtar, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) called on H.E. General Tanasak Patimapragorn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand to introduce herself and discuss avenues of cooperation between the Royal Thai Government and the United Nations, especially ESCAP.

Both sides expressed their satisfaction for the close cooperation between the Royal Thai Government and the United Nations, including ESCAP. The Executive Secretary expressed her appreciation for the continuous support of the Royal Thai Government, especially that of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In addition, the Executive Secretary noted with admiration Thailand’s proactive roles in the international arena on various economic and social issues as well as sustainable development, including by co-hosting the inaugural Asia-Pacific Forum of Sustainable Development (APFSD) in May 2014 in Pattaya with ESCAP to identify Asia-Pacific priorities for the post-2015 development agenda.

The Executive Secretary also showed her appreciation for Thailand’s leading roles in Disaster Risk Reduction, especially Thailand’s donation of USD 10 Million as seed money after the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami to establish the ESCAP Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness which has helped enhance regional early warning system and strengthen developing countries’ capacities for early warning systems ever since. The Executive Secretary also commended the Royal Thai Government for organizing the remembrance ceremony on the occasion of 10^th year anniversary of the Indian Ocean Tsunami in Phang Nga Province on 26-27December 2014.

H.E. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed Thailand’s determination, as host of ESCAP, to support ESCAP’s work in promoting sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs showed appreciation for ESCAP’s readiness to coordinate with the Royal Thai Government in promoting Sufficiency Economy Philosophy as a sustainable development model. He elaborated further that Thailand was determined to become a regional learning center for sustainable development.

On this occasion, the Executive Secretary requested, as in previous years, the Royal Thai Government’s support for the preparation of the 71^st session of Commission of ESCAP during 25 – 29 May 201, as well as the organization of the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development 2015 during 19 – 21 May 2015 at the UN Conference Center, Bangkok.

Mrs. Shamshad Akhtar, Under-Secretary-General of the UN and Executive Secretary of ESCAP, is the first and only lady who has ever assumed the position of the Governor of the Bank of Pakistan and the Deputy-Governor of the World Bank. Prior to assuming the current position, Mrs. Akhtar was the Assistant Secretary-General of the UN in charge of economic and social affairs. Mrs. Akhtar is also acting as UN Sherpa for the Group of 20 meeting