On 1 March 2017, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in cooperation with the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), launched a publication entitled “South-South in Action - Sustainability in Thailand: Experience for Developing Countries” and opened the exhibition on “The Lifetime Journey of the World’s Development King and the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy for SDGs” at the United Nations Office in Geneva. The event attracted 

a large numbers of high level officials and experts from the United Nations countries and entities.

 

Mr. Jorge Chediek, Envoy of the Secretary-General on South-South Cooperation and Director of the United Nation Office for South-South Cooperation, congratulated Thailand as the first country for the publication in the “South-South in Action” Publication Series. The publication highlights Thailand’s engagement in South-South Cooperation particularly through the dissemination of the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy. This philosophy has significantly contributed to sustainable development and resilience building in all sectors and levels of society.

 

During the publication launch, H.E. Mr.Virasakdi Futrakul, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, thanked the United Nation Office for South-South Cooperation for choosing Thailand to be the first country in its publication series and reiterated the importance of the publication as a way to share experiences in development policy, initiatives and activities with other developing countries. This partnership, through South-South and Triangular Cooperation in particular, is critical in the initial phase of implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Such cooperation is also central to Thailand’s development policy which was reflected in the theme of Thailand’s chairmanship of the Group of 77 in 2016 “From Vision to Action: Inclusive Partnership for Sustainable Development”. During its chairmanship of the Group of 77, Thailand shared its experience and best practices to promote sustainable development, particularly the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy which had been graciously bestowed by His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej to the Thai people decades ago. Although, Thailand’s chairmanship has already come to an end, Thailand will continue to share experiences and practices of the SEPs to interested countries through the “SEP for SDGs Partnership” and the “SEP for SDGs Youth Partnership” programmes.

 

Following the publication launch, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director of UNOSSC cut the ribbon to open “The Lifetime Journey of the World’s Development King and the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy for SDGs” exhibition presenting His Majesty the late King and his royal duties in the field of development as well as the development principle of SEP in achieving SDGs.