On 10 November 2023, H.E. Ms. Arjaree Sriratanaban, Ambassador of Thailand, attended the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) 2050 Dialogues as Special Envoy of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. The Dialogues focus on key themes under PIF’s 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.

 

Speaking at the dialogue session on people-centred development, the Ambassador affirmed Thailand’s commitment to support the efforts by Pacific Island Countries in their implementation of the 2050 Strategy towards realizing the Pacific Leaders’ vision. She highlighted Thailand’s approach towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as guided by Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP), and the importance of human rights, especially those of the vulnerable groups, to which Thailand seeks to contribute through its candidature to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the term 2025-2027.

 

In this regard, the Ambassador expressed Thailand’s readiness to share its experience and know-how and to work with Pacific Island Countries, particularly on capacity building and human resource development. This will include training programmes and master’s degree scholarships, provided through Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), on topics such as public health, sustainable community development based on SEP application, agriculture and food security, climate change, Bio, Circular, Green Economy (BCG), and sustainable and responsible tourism. Thailand will also work with Pacific Island Countries through activities under the Thailand – Pacific Island Countries Forum (TPIF).

 

Thailand became a PIF dialogue partner in 2004 and has been a development partner with Pacific Island countries since 1995.