Welcome Address by Her Excellency Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, at the 68th Session of The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP) at the United Nations Conference Centre, Bangkok, 21 May 2012
Mr. Chairman,
Madam Executive Secretary,
Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great pleasure for me to address this meeting of the Sixty-eighth Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP). On behalf of the Royal Thai Government and the people of the Kingdom of Thailand, I would like to warmly welcome and wish all delegates a pleasant and productive stay in our country.
The last time I was at this Centre was to celebrate United Nations Day last year. At that meeting, I reaffirmed Thailand’s long standing support for the United Nations. Today, I wish to reiterate Thailand’s support for UN ESCAP, in our capacity as Member State and host country. In a world and region of increasing economic and social challenges, UN ESCAP has contributed to progress in these fields and beyond. Under the leadership of Executive Director Noeleen Heyzer, this organization is becoming more relevant for our region. Indeed, UN ESCAP’s role will become even more significant as the Asia-Pacific assumes a greater role in the global economy.
Thailand is proud of our close cooperation with UN ESCAP. For example, after the Tsunami in 2004, we worked with UN ESCAP to develop a trust fund to build capacities to deal with such disasters. UN ESCAP also complements the work of regional organizations such as ASEAN, by supporting the development of the ASEAN Master Plan on Connectivity. In fact, UN ESCAP has always supported connectivity, having promoted the “Asian Highway” and “Trans-Asian Railway” from the very beginning. With these achievements, I hope that Member States will continue to support UN ESCAP.
Mr. Chairman,
With the rise of Asia and the increasing contribution of regional integration to this development, the theme this year, namely, “Enhancing regional economic integration in Asia and the Pacific: Towards a comprehensive framework” is very timely. In our view, for integration in the Asia-Pacific to succeed, we need to support the integration processes of various sub-regional groupings, such as ASEAN, with regard to both economic and social issues. This is because sub-regional frameworks can provide building blocs for the broader integration process.
From the economic angle, integration brings many benefits. For ASEAN, for example, the development of a single market and production base of 600 million consumers, free movement of capital and skilled labour and enhanced connectivity, will help increase trade and investment within the region as well as from outside. Greater cooperation on economic and financial issues has also helped ASEAN deal with the recent global economic challenges.
From the social angle, regional integration help States better address key social issues. These include promoting the rights and welfare of women and children and combating transnational crimes such as trafficking in persons (TIP) and illicit drugs. That is why Thailand created the Women Development Fund and helped initiate the “ASEAN Declaration on a Drug Free ASEAN by 2015”. That is why the Mekong sub region and ASEAN are stepping up efforts to fight TIP. Integration also encourages people-to-people connectivity which will help enhance mutual understanding among people, thereby promoting greater trust and confidence in the region.
Beyond ASEAN, promoting cooperation between various groupings, such as BIMSTEC, APEC, or ECO, is important in building momentum for economic integration in the Asia-Pacific. Lessons learnt from different groupings and synergies in cooperation will help build support for this broader integration. Stronger sub-regional frameworks will also give Member States greater confidence in giving support.
Mr. Chairman,
UN ESCAP can serve as a platform to share experiences on regional integration, by studying and facilitating potential cooperation between these sub-regional groupings. Of course, integration in the Asia-Pacific is more difficult. There is greater diversity in socio-economic systems and development levels. Nevertheless, I hope that Member States will work together to see how this could be developed in the interests of all. It is also our hope that any integration process would complement the global economic system, encourage private sector initiative and advance human security.
Lastly, I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the Executive Secretary for her continuing and tireless work, not only in economic integration but also in promoting gender equality. I look forward to working with her on all these issues and especially women issues which is our shared interest. I am confident that this session of the UN ESCAP will be fruitful and may I wish you every success in your work.
Thank you very much and Sawasdee Kha.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th