Thailand becomes chairmanship of G77

BANGKOK, January 13 (TNA) - Thailand has become the chair of the Group of 77 (G77), the world's largest intergovernmental organization of developing countries in the United Nations. Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai represented the Thai government to attend a ceremony in New York on January 12 (local time) to officially accept the country's chairmanship of the Group of 77, during which he emphasized that Thailand will promote the Sufficiency Economy Principle, advised by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, as a way to support sustainable development internationally. After the ceremony, held at the United Nations headquarters, Don said Thailand is positively recognized for the Kingdom's earlier announced intention to bring the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development into action, call for serious solutions to disasters, fund development projects and reduce impacts of climate change. During its one-year G77 chairmanship, Don stressed, Thailand will seriously introduce to the international community the royally-advised Sufficiency Economy Principle as a way to create sustainable development in all dimensions, as the practice has proved to be successful in the country for a decade. According to the foreign minister, he has assured the international community that Thailand will do the best and a national committee for sustainable development has been set up. The Thai foreign minister called on the private sector, the civil society and the media to support the Kingdom's G77 chairmanship roles, acknowledging if Thailand performs well, the international community should appreciate and the country's roles and status will be raised. Based on its official website, http://www.g77.org/doc, G77 was established on June 15, 1964 by 77 developing countries at the First Session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Geneva. The group now comprises of 134 world developing countries, but its original name has been retained for its historic significance. (TNA)