The Royal Thai Government, in collaboration with the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) are co-hosting the seventy-first session of the Commission from 25 to 29 May 2015 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok.   The session will comprise two segments: the senior officials segment, which is held from 25 to 27 May; and the ministerial segment on 28 and 29 May.

The Commission’s theme for this year is “Balancing the Three Dimensions of Sustainable Development: From Integration to Implementation.”  The sessions will examine the integration of the three dimensions of sustainable development, namely economic, social and environment, as the guiding principles for post-2015 development agenda.

H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of Thailand will deliver the opening remarks on 28 May 2015.  On the same day, H.E. General Tanasak Patimapragorn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, will deliver the country statement in his capacity as the head of the Thai delegation.

This ESCAP session is very important since it is the last Ministerial Meeting of Asia and the Pacific region before the United Nations Summit to adopt the post -2015 development agenda.  Therefore, several Heads of State and Government as well as Ministers and Heads of UN agencies will attend this Commission session such as Presidents of Kiribati and Nauru and Prime Ministers of Fiji and Tuvalu.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with Thailand Sustainable Development Foundation and the Mae Fah Luang Foundation, will co-organize the exhibition and high-level side event to promote Sufficiency Economy Philosophy guided by His Majesty the King and share Thailand’s best practices on sustainable development on 29 May 2015.

The Commission serves as a forum for all governments of the region to review and discuss economic and social issues and to strengthen regional cooperation.   The Commission meets annually at the ministerial level to discuss and decide on important issues pertaining to inclusive and sustainable economic and social development in the region.