Message from His Excellency Mr. Kofi Annan, Nobel Peace Laureate and former United Nations Secretary-General, Chair of The Kofi Annan Foundation

One of the key highlights during my tenure as United Nations Secretary-General was the adoption of the Millennium Development Goals. They served as the precursor to the current Sustainable Development Goals, which have expanded the international agenda from a global vision to nationally deliverable action applicable to every country. The political divide that hampered international development efforts has become instead a genuine partnership for development among all nations.

Thailand was ahead of the global scene on this front. Throughout His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 70-year reign, sustainable development of the nation and the well-being of the Thai people went handin-hand as countless rural development projects in every corner of the country that benefit millions of Thais can well attest.

His Majesty’s philosophical framework of ‘Sufficiency Economy Philosophy’ has played an important role in framing global dialogue towards the achievement of sustainable development. It was an honour for me to have presented to His Majesty the Late King the first United Nations Development Programme’s Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006, as recognition of his outstanding commitment to the development of the nation and the improvement of Thai people’s living standards.

I am heartened to learn that the Government of Thailand and the Thai people intend to build upon His Majesty’s people-centered and sustainable path to development by offering partnerships that are guided by the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, in the spirit of South-South and triangular cooperation.

Lastly, I wish to join the people and government of Thailand in commemorating the legacy of the world’s “Development King” by working together to achieve our collective goal of global sustainability.