On 16 September 2024, Ambassador Vilawan Mangklatanakul. Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Thailand to the United Nations, as the President of the IAEA 67^th General Conference, delivered an opening remarks and congratulated Ambassador Sang Wook Ham, Republic of Korea’s Permanent Representative, on his election President of the IAEA’s 68^th General Conference, held during 16-20 September 2024 in Vienna. On the same day, she delivered a statement emphasizing Thailand's progress in cooperation with the IAEA and called for strengthened support from Member States towards the IAEA's work on, particularly the safe and peaceful use of nuclear technology. Thailand has been elected as the candidate from the Southeast Asia and the Pacific (SEAP) group to serve on the 35-member IAEA Board of Governors for the 2024-2026 term. The election occurred on Thursday, September 19, during the plenary session of the IAEA General Conference. This Board membership will enable Thailand to engage more actively in shaping the Agency’s direction, including its policies, budget, technical initiatives, and related global issues.

On September 18, during the IAEA General Conference, Clinical Professor Artit Ungkanont, M.D., Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, and Mr. Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the IAEA, signed an agreement designating the Faculty of Medicine at Ramathibodi Hospital as an IAEA Collaborating Anchor Centre. This partnership is part of the IAEA's Rays of Hope initiative, which aims to assist Member States in establishing and expanding their capacities in radiotherapy and multimodality medical imaging. The signing, witnessed by  Ambassador Vilawan Mangklatanakul, reflects another step forward of the close collaboration between Thailand and the IAEA. The Anchor Centre in Thailand is notable as the 10th of its kind globally, the 4th in Asia, and the 1st in Southeast Asia.

The IAEA is an international organization tasked with promoting the safe and secure peaceful use of nuclear science and technology, as well as establishing and managing nuclear safeguards, which contribute to international peace and security and align with the United Nations' sustainable development goals. The General Conference is the most important mechanism under the IAEA, consisting of representatives from all IAEA member states. It annually takes place every September and is responsible for reviewing and approving the IAEA’s annual budget and addressing other significant issues presented by the Board of Governors, the Director General of the IAEA, and member states.

As a founding member of the IAEA since 1957, Thailand has played a vital role in supporting the peaceful use of nuclear science and technology, including in the fields of medicine, agriculture, industry, and food security. Thailand has taken on a constructive role within the IAEA framework and collaborates closely with the organization on various initiatives to address related challenges.

(Photo credit: Dean Calma/IAEA and Faculty of Medicine at Ramathibodi Hospital)