On 12 September 2018, Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, in collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) co-hosted the Asia-Pacific Regional Commemoration of the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, attended by members of the diplomatic corps, United Nations agencies and international organisations, academic and think tank institutions, and the media.

          The event aimed at disseminating information on South-South cooperation through the achievements and success stories of countries and organisations in Asia and the Pacific region, and reiterated the importance of South-South Cooperation as an integral part of the development process to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

          In his opening remarks, H.E. Mr. Vijavat Isarabhakdi, Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representing the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, emphasised the importance of sustainable partnership to achieve sustainable development. Furthermore, Mr. Jorge Chediek, Envoy of the UN Secretary General on South-South Cooperation and Director of UNOSSC, in his video message, stated that the Asia-Pacific region has been a birthplace and model for South-South Cooperation, and that the region will continue to make contributions to the new global agenda with renewed commitment to South-South Cooperation amidst challenges and opportunities in the future. 

          The event showcased past achievements of South-South and Trilateral Cooperation by Ambassadors and high level representatives of countries in Asia and the Pacific region to Thailand including China, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Fiji, India, Japan, and Thailand. Among presentations were Deputy Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) and representative of the Asia Foundation, representing a multi-stakeholder approach to South-South and triangular cooperation. Speakers were later presented with tokens of appreciation by UNOSSC in recognition of their countries’ and organisations’ contribution to promoting South-South and triangular cooperation in the region. From the Thai side, Mrs. Suphatra Srimaitreephitak, Director-General of Thailand International Cooperation Agency, presented Thailand’s implementation of Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) for partnership with other countries and international organisations to attain the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, under the ‘SEP for SDGs partnership’ initiative.

           The Asia-Pacific Regional Commemoration of the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation serves as a prime example of Thailand’s continued role in forging partnership for development with international organisations and member countries of the United Nations especially in South-South Cooperation and Trilateral Cooperation, after the successful hosting of the Regional Consultation on South-South Cooperation in Asia and the Pacific during 27 – 29 June 2018 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, UNOSSC and ESCAP. The commemoration day also presents an opportunity to promote the application of SEP in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under the ‘SEP for SDGs partnership’ initiative, which was also the theme for Thailand’s chairmanship of G77 and will be highlighted during Thailand’s ASEAN chairmanship in 2019.

           The United Nations General Assembly designated 12 September of each year as the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation. The United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation in 2018 also coincided with the 40^th anniversary of the Buenos Aires Plan of Action for Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries, adopted in 1978 in Buenos Aires, Argentina which will precede the convening of the Second United Nations High-level Conference on South-South Cooperation in Buenos Aires in March 2019.