The Prime Minister shared Thailand’s experiences in tackling COVID-19, pledging financial support for the ACT Accelerator Initiative on COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, considered as global public goods, at the United Nations General Assembly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
On 4 December 2020, H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of Thailand, delivered a pre-recorded video statement at the Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Prime Minister underlined that the main factors contributing to Thailand’s achievement in curbing COVID-19 thus far include the strength of Thailand’s health system and dedicated health workers, in particular, the village health volunteers and the close cooperation from all sectors in complying with basic preventive measures against COVID-19.

He pledged Thailand’s financial contribution for the development and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments through the ACT Accelerator Initiative, stressing that they must be “global public goods” that are equally accessible to all. He also emphasised the application of technology and innovation in managing the local COVID-19 situation, as well as in servicing patients in remote areas. Moreover, the Prime Minister underlined the importance of the multilateral system and solidarity to overcome this crisis in a sustainable manner.

On this note, Thailand and ASEAN Member States have put in place robust mechanisms to fight the COVID-19 pandemic through various initiatives such as the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund, the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework, and the establishment of the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases. On a final note, the Prime Minister sent a message of encouragement to countries that are facing new waves of the pandemic and expressed Thailand’s readiness to cooperate with all Member States in battling this pandemic, while “leaving no one behind.”