Statement by
His Excellency General Prayut Chan-o-cha,
the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand,
at the Global COVID-19 Summit: Ending the Pandemic and Building Back Better
on 22 September 2021, 22.00 hrs. (Bkk Time) / 11.00 hrs. (Eastern Time) 

President Biden,
Distinguished delegates,

It is my honour to join this summit. Thailand is committed to multilateral cooperation which we believe will lead to us overcoming this pandemic and being better prepared for future health threats. Therefore, on behalf of the Royal Thai Government, I wish to affirm Thailand’s commitment to the following 3 main targets.

First, Thailand supports universal access to COVID-19 vaccines. My Government has declared our country-wide vaccination strategy a “national agenda”, setting the target to inoculate at least 70% of the population by the end of this year. Every person, regardless of nationality and status, is included. The Thai government has invested in research and development in order to locally produce COVID-19 vaccines. Thailand also stands ready to cooperate with potential partners to increase vaccine capacity in the region, thereby further strengthening global health security.

Second, Thailand supports the targets to increase production capacity of much needed medical supplies and pharmaceutical products. This will ensure that medical and frontline personnel, and the general public, are well-protected and safe from the pandemic and to speed up a return to normalcy. Thailand has extended technical assistance and capacity-building support in the area of health to our neighbouring countries, as well as medical supplies such as medical masks, PPEs, COVID-19 test kits, and oxygen concentrators to over 10 countries with high infection rates. We commit to do more and also extend our deep appreciation to the United States and our friends, who have provided us assistances and invaluable support during this difficult time.

Third and last, Thailand agrees in principle that we need to further strengthen pandemic preparedness and response at all levels, national, regional and global. Thailand supports the ongoing WHO process of developing a Pandemic Treaty. Meanwhile, Thailand is revising our Communicable Disease Act in line with the International Health Regulations, which we hope will help increase the effectiveness of our response and preparedness against COVID- 19 and future pandemics