The Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand and Japan will co-host the Third Ministerial Meeting of the Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD III) on 27 June 2018 in Bangkok.

Initiated by Japan in 2013, CEAPAD serves as a forum for East Asian countries and international organisations to coordinate the sharing of experiences and knowledge, as well as the assistance cooperation with Palestine for its ongoing development efforts. CEAPAD has contributed to the socio-economic development and capacity building of Palestine, in line with the Palestinian needs and East Asian countries’ resources. In this regard, the CEAPAD forum plays a useful role in creating an environment conducive to achieving lasting peace in the Middle East on the basis of the Two-State Solution.

In keeping with our support for the Two-State Solution and the peace process in the Middle East, Thailand has been an active member of CEAPAD since the First Ministerial Meeting in Tokyo in February 2013. Since then, Thailand and Japan co-hosted the CEAPAD Aid Coordination Meeting in Bangkok in September 2013. Thailand has also organised training courses on tourism for Palestinians upon their request through the trilateral programme with Japan. Thailand stands ready to continue our constructive engagement in assisting Palestine’s socio-economic development endeavours through CEAPAD.

As co-host of CEAPAD III, Thailand firmly believes that CEAPAD III will enhance the aid coordination and further contribute to the prosperity and sustainable development of Palestine and the Palestinian people. The Foreign Ministers of Thailand, Japan and Palestine will co-chair the CEAPAD III meeting, with participants from Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), World Bank, and Islamic Development Bank, as well as observers from Egypt, Jordan, the League of Arab States, and the Office of the Quartet.